Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), Japan’s largest shipowner, has expressed its confidence in its self-developed wind propulsion system, announcing today plans to install its Wind Challenger hard sail on a further seven dry bulk and multipurpose (MPP) carriers. MOL said it is also considering installing Anemoi’s Rotorsail on some of these ships in tandem with the Wind Challenger.
The installations will add to four ships that already carry various forms of wind propulsion.
As well as its own Wind Challenger tech developed in partnership with Oshima Shipbuilding, MOL will also install EconoWind’s Ventifoils on an MPP due for delivery next year.
MOL plans to launch 25 vessels equipped with Wind Challengers by 2030 and 80 vessels by 2035 making it among the world’s most committed investors in wind technology.