On January 9, the world’s first 114,000 DWT wind-assisted propulsion LNG dual-fuel oil tanker SPA, custom-built by New Yangzijiang Shipbuilding of Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group for UK-based Union Maritime Limited (UML), departed the shipyard dock and was delivered for operational service.
The vessel measures 248.8 meters in length, 44 meters in beam, with a design draft of 13.5 meters and a structural draft of 15 meters. It has a design speed of 14.5 knots and is classed by Lloyd’s Register. As the world’s first vessel integrating two cutting-edge technologies—sail-assisted propulsion and LNG dual-fuel power—it is ideally suited for transoceanic crude oil and refined product transportation. It achieves optimal performance on routes with stable wind conditions, such as the North Atlantic and Pacific, balancing environmental compliance with long-term economic viability.
This vessel is equipped with two C-deck fuel tanks, featuring a boil-off rate of 0.4% per day. The main engine utilizes a high-pressure gas system, while the generators and boilers employ a low-pressure gas system. The deck is equipped with two hydraulically controlled, foldable, rotating, three-winged, high-rigidity windwings, with an effective height of 37.5 meters and a width of 20 meters.
The sails are raised, lowered, rotated, and deployed via a mechanical hydraulic transmission system, providing additional thrust to the vessel and thus reducing fuel consumption from the main engine. When the sails are operating effectively, they can save 5-10% on average daily fuel consumption, reduce the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) by 12%, and effectively improve ship operational efficiency while reducing carbon emissions.
On the morning of January 6, Yanzijiang Shipbuilding Group and the shipowner UML jointly held a grand naming ceremony for the vessel.