Norsepower to deliver rotor sails for six eco-friendly chemical tanker newbuilds

Finnish cleantech company Norsepower is set to supply six units of its wind propulsion solution for a total of six newbuilding tankers commissioned by Germany’s GEFO Shipping Group.

As disclosed, under the terms of the agreement that the two companies have signed, Norsepower will provide its rotor sails for a pair of 7,900 dwt chemical tankers and a quartet of 3,850 dwt units from the same segment.

The vessels are currently being built by China’s Nantong Xiangyu Shipbuilding, with handovers due between 2026 and 2028. The deal reportedly marks the first contract inked between the three parties.

Norsepower representatives have highlighted that the sextet has received support from the German government’s Namkue Fund (Nachhaltige Modernisierung von Küstenschiffen), a financial instrument issued by the country’s Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport that aims to promote eco-friendly coastal maritime transportation and speed up the development and production of decarbonisation technologies.

It has also been noted that the tankers’ design belongs to the German naval architecture firm SDC Ship Design & Consult.

According to Norsepower, the 3,850 dwt tankers will be outfitted with one 20mx4m rotor