Finnish cleantech firm Norsepower will supply six of its wind propulsion rotor sails for six newbuilding tankers commissioned by Germany’s GEFO Shipping Group.
Under the agreement, Norsepower will deliver rotor sails for two 7,900 dwt chemical tankers and four 3,850 dwt chemical tankers. All vessels are currently under construction at China’s Nantong Xiangyu Shipbuilding, with scheduled deliveries between 2026 and 2028. This marks the first formal contract among the three parties involved.
Backing from Germany’s Namkue Fund
The entire fleet is supported by the Namkue Fund (Nachhaltige Modernisierung von Küstenschiffen)—a sustainability initiative from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. The fund promotes eco-friendly coastal shipping and the advancement of decarbonisation technologies.
All ships will feature a design developed by German naval architecture firm SDC Ship Design & Consult.
EX-Compliant Rotor Sails for Chemical Tankers
According to Norsepower, each 3,850 dwt vessel will be equipped with one 20m x 4m rotor sail, while the larger 7,900 dwt tankers will receive one 28m x 4m rotor sail each. All sails will utilize Norsepower’s EX-compliant design, certified for ships transporting flammable cargo and meeting all classification and safety standards.
Integration with Norsepower Digital Systems
GEFO will also gain access to the Norsepower Digital Dimension, which includes the AI-enabled Norsepower Sentient Control system and the Norsepower Cloud. This technology suite enables real-time performance monitoring, predictive maintenance, and emissions transparency.
Rotor Sail Production and Regional Expansion
The rotor sails will be produced at Norsepower’s dedicated Chinese factory, inaugurated in November 2024.
Earlier in April, Norsepower also partnered with COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Equipment (Nantong) (CHIC). The collaboration is intended to scale up the production, sales, installation, and service of Norsepower rotor sails across the region.
Norsepower representatives stated that the partnership aims to provide shipping firms with cost-effective, practical solutions for reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
