Berge Bulk retrofits Berge Olympus with auxiliary sail power system
Berge Bulk’s Newcastlemax Berge Olympus has been retrofitted with four auxiliary WingSails and a groundbreaking shaft generator system, to save fuel and reduce CO2 emissions (Source: Berge Bulk)
Singapore-based Berge Bulk has retrofitted its Newcastlemax bulk carrier Berge Olympus with an auxiliary sail power system, that if successful will be retrofitted to other vessels in the fleet later this year. The move to auxiliary propulsion power is to reduce CO2 emission as well as fuel consumption and is part of Berge Bulk’s commitment to become carbon neutral by 2025.
The 211,153dwt 2018-built Berge Olympus has been fitted with four Bartech WindWings by Norway’s Yara Marine Technologies, making her the world’s most powerful sailing dry cargo vessel. Each WindWing has an aerodynamic height of 37.5m and a width of 20m, with the system expected to save six tons of fuel per day, as well as saving 19.5 tons of CO2 emissions daily. The total surface area of the four sails is 3,000m2.
Berge Bulk operates a regular service between China (Qushan) and Brazil (Tubarao), a route which has favourable wind conditions. Other vessels operating on this route will also be retrofitted with the auxiliary sail propulsion system.
Berge Olympus has four sister ships. Berge Zugspitze, Berge Grossglockner, Berge Toubkal and Berge Mulhacen. While Berge Olympus was being retrofitted with her new WindWings, the bulk carrier was also retrofitted with a groundbreaking shaft generator system, driven by the vessel’s Wärtsilä 6X72 main engine, to supply the onboard electrical power. The 1-MW capacity shaft generator eliminates the need for the use of auxiliary diesels at sea; further reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
Berge Bulk owns and manages more than 80 bulk carriers, totalling more than 14 million dwt.
