Page 30: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 2023)

G REAT of

HIPS

S

SHIP OWNER/OPERATOR

Ship Owner Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.

2023

Shipbuilder Oshima Shipbuilding

LOA 235m

Breadth 43m

Deadweight About 100,422 tons

Flag/Port of registry Japan/Port of Noshiro

WIND CHALLENGER SPECIFICATIONS

Height Up to about 53 m (4-tier)

Width About 15 m

Sail material Fiber Reinforced Plastic

MOL W IND apanese maritime companies historically have said that Shofu Maru is the result of an eight-year Joint maintained strong leadership in both maritime Industry Project (JIP) with academia, including four years technologies and environmental matters. Driven to take the 100,000-dwt bulk carrier from basic design to by new and emerging regulations aimed at decar- delivery. In address the primary challenges to bringing the

Jbonizing the maritime sector, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines project from the drawing board to the commercial water- (MOL) has melded the two, partnering on a pair of ship in- ways, he was blunt: “There was no past experience; every- novation projects – Wind Challenger and Wind Hunter – that thing is a challenge.” aim to harness the power of the wind as a means to help it In looking back on the project’s origin, he said the ? rst meet and beat its own rigid emission reduction mandates. hurdle to cross was taking into account the range of the

While next-generation maritime technology is most often ship’s motion plus the wind pressure and thrust generated by seen in the R&D lab, Wind Challenger is sailing commercial the hard sale. “The combination pattern of ship’s motion and routes today. In late 2022, Oshima Shipbuilding delivered wind force is almost in? nite,” said Makoto Yamaguchi. “ We

Shofu Maru, the world’s ? rst vessel equipped with the Wind have solved this kind of, lots of “unknown” design matter

Challenger hard sail, designed to transport coal, mainly from one by one.”

Australia, Indonesia, and North America as a dedicated vessel As designed, Wind Challenger was expected to reduce for Tohoku Electric Power Co. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions about 5% on a Japan-Aus-

Makoto Yamaguchi, Chief Technical Of? cer Director tralia voyage and about 8% on a Japan-North America West

General, Headquarters of Technology Innovation, MOL, Coast voyage, compared to a conventional vessel of the same 30 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • December 2023

MR #12 (18-33).indd 30 12/5/2023 5:49:17 PM