Finnish Cleantech Company Norsepower to Supply Wind Propulsion Solution for GEFO Shipping Group Tankers

Finnish cleantech company Norsepower has secured a deal to provide its innovative wind propulsion solution for six newbuilding tankers commissioned by Germany’s GEFO Shipping Group.

Under the agreement, Norsepower will supply its rotor sails for two 7,900 dwt chemical tankers and four 3,850 dwt units, currently under construction at China’s Nantong Xiangyu Shipbuilding. The handovers of these vessels are scheduled between 2026 and 2028, marking the first collaboration between the three parties.

The German government’s Namkue Fund, aimed at promoting eco-friendly coastal maritime transportation, has provided financial support for this project. The tankers’ design comes from the German naval architecture firm SDC Ship Design & Consult.

The 3,850 dwt tankers will each feature a 20mx4m rotor sail, while the 7,900 dwt vessels will be equipped with a 28mx4m rotor sail. Norsepower’s EX-compliant design, certified for ships carrying flammable cargo, meets all class and safety requirements.

GEFO will benefit from the Norsepower Digital Dimension, enabling the use of the AI-enabled Norsepower Sentient Control system and cloud-based data infrastructure for performance optimization, predictive maintenance, and emission savings transparency.

Manufacturing of the rotor sails will take place at Norsepower’s dedicated factory in China, inaugurated in late November 2024. In a recent partnership with China’s COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Equipment (Nantong) (CHIC), Norsepower aims to accelerate the production, sales, installation, and service of its rotor sails in the region, offering shipping companies practical solutions to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.