Oldendorff to retrofit Rotor Sails on bulker

The retrofit installation of three 24m x 4m Rotor Sails on the Dietrich Oldendorff will take place in Q2 2024. The bulk vessel is contracted to be employed on a North Pacific trade route to Asia.

The Norsepower Rotor Sail is an innovative modernised version of the Flettner rotor. It uses a minimal amount of the ship’s electric power to actively rotate the cylinder-shaped rotors on the ship’s deck. Rotation, together with wind, packs the air behind the sail and creates powerful thrust – saving fuel and reducing emissions.

The Motorship notes that similar installations have been expected to achieve average fuel and carbon emission reductions of 6-10% for the ship. The product has already been used by customers for about 10 years and has 310,000+ operating hours, delivering over 21,000 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions reductions to date. 

Torsten Barenthin, Director of Research & Development, Oldendorff, comments: “We are extremely excited about reducing fuel consumption and emissions by harnessing the power of the wind with Norsepower Rotor Sails.”

Tuomas Riski, CEO of Norsepower, adds: “Oldendorff is a dream customer for Norsepower in more than one way: a family-owned, legendary, company with over 100 years operating in the industry and around 700 vessels on the water today. Oldendorff is making green shipping a reality today and is the best partner we could have on our journey towards the zero-carbon industry. I wholeheartedly welcome Oldendorff’s commitment to Norsepower’s mission of decarbonizing shipping and look forward to the next possibilities for cooperation!”