Tiltable Norsepower Rotor Sails broaden wind power appeal

Finland’s Norsepower has unveiled a contract to retrofit two 35m-high tiltable Rotor Sails to a Sea-Cargo-owned RoRo vessel, SC Connector, which operates in the North Sea where some of the most favourable conditions for wind-assisted propulsion prevail.

The tiltable sails will enable the 12,251gt vessel to navigate safely under bridges and power lines on its coastal routes and are due to be installed during the fourth quarter of this year. Emissions savings of up to 25% are expected, the companies said.

Norsepower and the Norway-based shipowner worked closely on the design of these first tiltable Rotor Sails. They can be lowered almost to the horizontal when required, removing potential height restrictions, enhancing the energy- and emissions-saving potential of the sails, and widening Norsepower’s potential market in the coastal vessel sector. Rotor Sails are suitable both for new and existing vessels.  

“We are delighted to be working with Sea-Cargo,” declared Tuomas Riski, Norsepower CEO, “not only as they are keen to demonstrate their commitment to maximising the propulsive power of wind to reduce emissions but also for their cooperation and innovation in making tilting Rotor Sails a realisation. Rotor Sails are particularly well-suited to RoRo vessels.”