China’s Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard has announced the successful completion of the Rotor Sail system installation on the M/V NSU TUBARAO, which has now set sail.
As Xinya Shipyard’s first Rotor Sail retrofit project, it represents a major breakthrough in green ship modification technology. This success establishes a robust foundation for tapping into the high-end energy-saving retrofit market.
M/V NSU TUBARAO is a 361-meter-long, 65-meter-wide Ore Carrier owned by NSU. The five newly installed Anemoi folding Rotor Sails are energy-saving devices that utilize the Magnus effect by spinning the cylinders to harness wind energy and generate additional thrust, thereby reducing fuel consumption.
Unlike traditional sails, Rotor Sails work independently of wind direction, functioning in both crosswind and headwind conditions.
Furthermore, the Rotor Sail system’s integrated smart control unit is designed to automatically adjust operation based on real-time wind speed and direction for maximum kinetic energy generation, resulting in effective reductions in both fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emission.
According to reports, the Rotor Sail system, comprising structures like the FRP cylinder, steel tower and foundation is equipped with advanced hydraulic folding and auto-adjustment systems. Key specifications include an overall height of approx. 38m, an outer diameter of 5m, a top disc diameter of 9m, a total weight of 124 tons, and a maximum design speed of 170 rpm.
And it’s foundation is equipped with hydraulic cylinders, which enable the mast to be tilted using an extending mechanism. The maximum tilt angle achievable is 87 degrees, positioning it almost horizontally.
For the critical steps involved in the Rotor Sail installation, such as deck structure modification and foundation reinforcement, Xinya Shipyard leveraged 3D simulation technology to conduct construction rehearsals, ensuring the safety and reliability of the plan.
To guarantee installation accuracy, Xinya Shipyard used a total station to perform multiple verifications of the installation position for each foundation. This ensured that the axial alignment precision for all five Rotor Sails was controlled within the specified quality standard tolerance.
During the system commissioning phase, Xinya Shipyard worked closely with Anemoi experts to complete key procedures, including control system integration testing and safety protection tests, ensuring that all performance indicators fully met the design requirements.
The successful execution of this project has provided Xinya Shipyard with invaluable hands-on experience in Rotor Sail installation. Moreover, it has significantly strengthened our technical team’s skills and professional competence in the field of green retrofitting.
Even more, this project’s successful completion has not only enhanced Xinya Shipyard’s competitiveness in the green ship retrofitting market but has also set a benchmark for the transformation and upgrading of the ship repair industry.