First gas carrier to use wind sails

The wind-assisted propulsion technology has been retrofitted on the Anthony Veder-owned Coral Patula with plans to similarly equip sister ship Coral Pearl later this year.

“While we focus on optimising the design of newbuilds and running those on bio-LNG, we are equally committed to enhancing the efficiency of our existing fleet,” said Björn van de Weerdhof, commercial and sustainability director at Anthony Veder.

“Wind-assisted propulsion is a key step in this effort, and our collaboration with Econowind reflects the strength of our partnerships.”

The system is designed to work alongside existing engines, providing a boost in propulsion through the power of wind.

The company says it is anticipating fuel savings of around 5%, with the potential of more than 10% in optimal wind conditions.

Anthony Veder worked with Econowind, developing an advanced business case detailing benefits and costs.

“This allowed us to see key advantages, such as speed increases for gas carriers, where VentoFoils help offset engine power limitations,” explained Rens Groot, chief operations officer at Econowind.

“Meeting the tight timeline was possible due to Anthony Veder’s experienced team in project execution and dry dockings. This vessel is set to achieve substantial fuel savings and CO2 reductions with an attractive payback period.”