MOL harnesses wind power on seven newbuilds

The company has measured one such system – the Wind Challenger – in real life conditions on board the bulk carrier, Shofu Maru and confirmed fuel savings of up to 17% depending on route and type of vessel.

After this latest installation MOL Group will have a total of 11 vessels with wind propulsion systems, nine of which are equipped with Wind Challenger.

Among the seven newbuilds to be equipped with wind propulsion systems, six new bulk carriers will each be equipped with one Wind Challenger.

Construction contracts have already been signed with Oshima Shipbuilding Co. for three of the six vessels, with contracts in the pipeline for the remaining three.

MOL Drybulk is also installing two Ventfoils, a foldable and autonomous unit for wind-assisted ship propulsion manufactured by EconoWind, on one of its new multipurpose vessels slated for delivery 2025 and operation under a time charter.

As part of its target of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the group plans to launch 25 vessels equipped with the Wind Challenger by 2030 and 80 vessels by 2035.