Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), a leading Japanese shipping company, and Chevron Shipping Company, a subsidiary of the energy giant Chevron, have entered into an agreement to install the Wind Challenger, an innovative hard sail wind-assisted propulsion system, on a new LNG carrier. This vessel will be the world’s first LNG carrier equipped with such a wind-assisted propulsion system.
The LNG carrier, with a capacity of 174 000 cubic meters, is being constructed at Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje Shipyard and is expected to be delivered in 2026. It is chartered by Chevron Asia Pacific Shipping. This project follows MOL’s recent achievement of obtaining an approval in principle (AiP) from ClassNK for the design of an LNG carrier incorporating a wind-assisted propulsion system. The Chevron-chartered vessel will be the first to implement this design in practice.
Source: MOL
The Wind Challenger system, featuring telescopic sails, is designed to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The system’s installation will be done in a way that minimizes the impact on the vessel’s existing design, preserving the current mooring arrangement and limiting the effect on the vessel’s windage area. Additional safety measures include a fully enclosed navigation bridge and a lookout station on the vessel’s foredeck to enhance visibility.
Barbara Pickering, President of Chevron Shipping Company, expressed pride in partnering with MOL for this groundbreaking installation, highlighting it as a significant step towards reducing carbon intensity in the LNG fleet. Takeshi Hashimoto, President and CEO of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, emphasized that this project aligns with MOL’s commitment to achieving net-zero GHG emissions by 2050, as part of their “Environmental Vision 2.2.” The successful implementation of the Wind Challenger on LNG carriers represents a major milestone in advancing the use of renewable energy technologies in maritime transport.
