BHP, Pan Pacific Copper (PPC), and Norsepower have completed the retrofit installation of a Norsepower Rotor Sail™ (NPRS™) on the M/V Koryu, a combination carrier operated by Nippon Marine. This vessel will transport copper concentrates from Chile to Japan and sulphuric acid from Japan to Chile. The installation was completed in June 2024, and the M/V Koryu is now on its maiden voyage from Japan to Chile post-installation.
The rotor sail, which stands 35 meters tall with a 5-meter diameter, has a tilting foundation for easy cargo handling at ports. The Norsepower Rotor Sail™ uses the Magnus effect to harness wind power, improving fuel efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by allowing the main engines to throttle back when wind conditions are favorable.
The collaboration aims to reduce GHG emissions from maritime transport between Chile and Japan. Simulations and real-world data estimate a 5-6 percent fuel savings on this route, potentially making the M/V Koryu the best-performing vessel in its category for GHG emissions intensity.
BHP, PPC, and Norsepower will monitor the NPRS™ performance to measure actual fuel savings and GHG reductions. BHP’s Vice President Maritime & Supply Chain Excellence, Rashpal Bhatti, highlighted the route’s favorable wind conditions, which make it ideal for wind propulsion. PPC’s Executive Officer, Tomonori Uemura, and Norsepower’s CEO, Heikki Pöntynen, expressed their commitment to reducing GHG emissions and advancing towards a decarbonized society through this successful collaboration.
