Norsepower to equip world’s first VLCC newbuilds with rotor sails
Leading provider of mechanical sails for large vessels Norsepower and Idemitsu Tanker Co., Ltd., the shipping arm of Idemitsu Kosan, have announced their agreement to equip two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) with the Norsepower Rotor Sail™.
The vessels (render pictured), which will be methanol-powered and built by Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU) and Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd., (NSY) mark the world-first release of VLCCs to be fitted with rotor sails. Each VLCC will be delivered with two 35x5m explosion-proof Norsepower Rotor Sails™. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in end of 2028.
In an official statement, representatives from Idemitsu Tanker Co., Ltd. commented: By equipping our new VLCCs with the Norsepower Rotor Sail™, we are not only investing in fuel savings and emission reductions but also taking a decisive step towards the decarbonisation of long-haul shipping. This project reflects our philosophy of combining reliable operations with innovation to serve global energy needs responsibly.”
This milestone deal underlines both the maturity of wind propulsion and Norsepower’s leadership in the tanker segment. With 22 units in operation in this segment alone, Norsepower Rotor Sails have already been installed on tankers of various size — from smaller chemical tankers, LC02 carriers, MR, LR, VLGC — and now, for the first time, on VLCCs.
Heikki Pöntynen, CEO of Norsepower, said: “This is a defining moment for Norsepower and for wind propulsion in global shipping. Partnering with Idemitsu Tanker and JMU on the first VLCCs with rotor sails and doing so as our first newbuild project in Japan, is a tremendous step forward. Japan has already become the single biggest market for Norsepower projects, and this collaboration confirms both the trust in our technology and its relevance across all tanker segments.”
The Norsepower Rotor Sail™ is a modernised, data-driven evolution of the Flettner rotor – a spinning cylinder that uses the Magnus Effect to capture wind and deliver clean propulsion. Alongside the aerodynamic hardware, each installation is supported by advanced digital control systems that optimise performance in real time, ensuring the sails operate at peak efficiency in every condition. By reducing reliance on engines, the system cuts both fuel consumption and emissions. Depending on wind patterns, routing and vessel operations, Norsepower Rotor Sails typically reduce fuel use by 5–25% — and even higher when conditions are favourable.