MOL plans hard sail for second bulk carrier

MOL Drybulk has signed a construction contract for the new ship with Oshima Shipbuilding. The vessel, slated for delivery in 2024, will be the second Wind Challenger-equipped vessel in the MOL Group fleet, following one scheduled to enter services in October of this year.

The vessel will transport wood pellets for Enviva.

The Wind Challenger is a telescoping hard sail that converts wind energy to propulsive force. Installation of one Wind Challenger sail on merchant ships has the potential to reduce GHG emissions by about 5-8%. A bulk carrier for Tohoku Electric Power, the first vessel equipped with the Wind Challenger, is slated to be delivered in October 2022.

MOL group is also examining the feasibility of adopting rotor sails developed by Anemoi Marine Technologies on the vessel. Combined use of both the Wind Challenger and Rotor Sails is expected to reduce GHG emissions by an average of 20%.

MOL Group aims to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050.