U-Ming Installs Rotor Sails on Grand Pioneer, Marking Decarbonization Milestone
Taiwanese shipping company U-Ming Marine Transport Corporation (U-Ming) and UK-based wind propulsion specialist Anemoi Marine Technologies have successfully completed the rotor sail installation on Grand Pioneer, a 325,000 dwt very large ore carrier (VLOC).
This marks a historic achievement, as U-Ming becomes the first Taiwanese shipowner to adopt rotor sails, advancing its long-term decarbonization strategy.
Rotor Sail Installation on Grand Pioneer
The project involved the delivery and installation of four folding rotor sails, each 35 meters tall and 5 meters in diameter. These sails were fully assembled and dynamically balanced at Anemoi’s production base on the Yangtze River before being transported by barge to COSCO Zhoushan Shipyard.
Using a streamlined plug-and-play process, the sails were lifted directly onto the deck and secured in place. This approach significantly minimized shipyard work and shortened installation time. In total:
- 1.5 days were required to lift and fix the sails onboard.
- 5 additional days were dedicated to commissioning and testing all rotor sails and folding systems.
The work coincided with the vessel’s scheduled dry dock in September 2025.
U-Ming and Anemoi on the Collaboration
Jeff Hsu, Vice Chairman of U-Ming, highlighted the company’s vision:
“The installation of Rotor Sails on Grand Pioneer marks an important step in U-Ming’s decarbonisation journey and reflects our belief that the future of global shipping must be both sustainable and competitive. Through collaboration with our forward-thinking partner Anemoi, we are turning strategy into action by reducing emissions, enhancing efficiency, and delivering long-term value.”
Clare Urmston, CEO of Anemoi, emphasized the industry-wide importance of the project:
“U-Ming’s decision to adopt Rotor Sails, particularly as the first in the Taiwanese market to do so, demonstrates their strength, ambition, and clear focus on decarbonisation. Our collaboration reflects the growing momentum behind wind propulsion as a critical pathway to lower-emission shipping, and we look forward to analysing performance data from upcoming voyages.”
Expected Performance and Service
Following the installation, Grand Pioneer will resume deep-sea service between Brazil and China under a long-term charter with Brazilian mining company Vale. The vessel is expected to achieve annual fuel and emissions reductions of 10–12% on average.
Related Milestone: Biofuel Adoption
In addition to the rotor sail project, U-Ming recently completed the first B24 biofuel bunkering operation on its newbuild 64,000 dwt bulk carrier, Asian Progress. Conducted in late July 2025, this operation represents “a major step forward” in U-Ming’s ambition to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The Asian Progress is also LNG-ready, reinforcing the company’s multi-fuel approach to sustainable shipping.
