Anemoi installs Rotor Sails on NSU bulk carrier

Anemoi Marine Technologies has completed the installation of five 35-meter Rotor Sails on the 400,000 DWT ore carrier NSU Tubarão, marking the fourth very large ore carrier (VLOC) equipped with Anemoi’s wind-assisted propulsion system for Vale-chartered vessels.

The retrofit was carried out during scheduled drydocking in October at Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard in China. The five-year-old vessel, owned by NS United Kaiun Kaisha, Ltd. (NSU) and chartered by Vale International, is expected to cut fuel consumption by 6–12 percent annually.

The installation brings Anemoi’s total fitted tonnage to more than 1.6 million DWT. Each Rotor Sail uses a folding mechanism, allowing flexibility during cargo operations.

NSU has combined the Rotor Sails with advanced digital tools, including Manta’s FuelOpt for engine power management and NAPA’s Voyage Optimisation software for route planning, to maximise wind efficiency without delaying schedules. The vessel also received a new shaft generator to enhance overall energy performance and optimise fuel use while operating the Rotor Sails.

Anemoi CEO Clare Urmston said the project demonstrates growing industry confidence in wind propulsion. “Working with partners like NSU, Vale, and ClassNK, we can advance Rotor Sail technology and show how integrated wind-assisted systems deliver real performance benefits,” Urmston said.

NSU Managing Executive Officer Toru Fujita added that the project reflects the company’s commitment to efficiency. “The Rotor Sails on NSU Tubarão, and the systems that support them, are a perfect example of our focus on sustainable innovation,” he said.

The 361-meter-long, 65-meter-wide vessel ranks among the largest bulk carriers in the world. Its five Rotor Sails, each 35 meters tall and 5 meters in diameter, use the Magnus effect to generate thrust and reduce main engine load during operation.

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