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AP Moller-Maersk has selected British company Anemoi Marine Technologies to supply its Rotor Sail wind propulsion system for installation on an 8,700 TEU Maersk Lima class vessel. The upgrade will take place on the deck of the Maersk Labrea.
This trial will mark the first application of this technology on a containership, a system already deployed in other maritime segments, such as bulk carriers.
Under this agreement, Anemoi will design, manufacture, and deliver a fixed rotor sail, five meters in diameter and 35 meters high, for installation on the vessel.
The system will be integrated with existing systems on board, with assistance provided throughout the engineering and installation process. The rotor sail will be installed by mid-2027 and tested during the vessel's regular operation, which is expected to consist of voyages in the North and South Atlantic.
Rotor sails are a proven wind-assisted propulsion technology that harnesses aerodynamic lift to generate additional thrust, helping to reduce fuel consumption and associated emissions under suitable operating conditions.
In this regard, Maersk stated that "the vessel will continue to operate in regular commercial service throughout the trial period. Wind has propelled ships for thousands of years and, although most ships no longer rely solely on it, modern sail technologies are creating opportunities to once again harness wind as a power source at sea."
"While wind-assisted propulsion is already being deployed in other shipping segments, experience in the container shipping industry remains limited. Through this pilot, our goal is to gain practical experience, collect performance data under real operating conditions, and better understand the potential role of this technology in our fleet and in container shipping in general," it added.
For her part, Clare Urmston, CEO of Anemoi, commented, "We are delighted to collaborate with Maersk on this pioneering project. It is a clear example of how collaboration can drive the adoption of wind-assisted propulsion, and we look forward to carrying out the installation and working together as the project progresses."
Ole Graa Jakobsen, Head of Fleet Technology at Maersk, stated, "Wind-assisted propulsion is one of the most promising maritime solutions, with the potential to improve vessel efficiency and reduce emissions. It has already been proven in other shipping sectors, and we consider this pilot project with Anemoi a valuable opportunity to gain practical experience and assess its relevance for our fleet and for container shipping in general."
Anemoi, established in 2015, has installed its rotor sails on vessels operating across a diverse network of international trade routes. The expansion into new types of transport vessels comes at a crucial time, given that the International Maritime Organization's Strategy for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships has has set a target of zero emissions by or around 2050.
