Anemoi Marine Technologies Ltd, Hafnia Limited, Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI), and DNV will collaborate to develop Rotor Sails suitable for installation on 50,000 dwt Medium-Range (MR) tanker vessels.
The companies signed a Joint Development Project (JDP) in April 2025 to develop a new generation of efficient and environmentally friendly Rotor Sail vessel designs to increase the efficiency of MR tankers within the wider global fleet. As part of the project, Anemoi and Hafnia will undertake several engineering studies to establish specifications related to how Rotor Sails can be safely and efficiently installed on the deck of MR tankers, alongside additional electrical and control system layouts for these vessels.
Our partnership with Hafnia, alongside GSI and DNV, will ensure a new generation of MR tankers that utilises Rotor Sails to improve their efficiency and sustainability credentials hits the water in the not-too-distant future.
… explained Nick Contopoulos Chief Production and Partnerships Officer of Anemoi
In addition, the studies will include calculations to examine how Rotor Sails can improve the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) and Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) values of existing and future MR tankers.
WAPS, like Rotor Sails, are spreading throughout the industry, enabled by new materials, data and software, and evolving rules and regulations. Across all segments, we still have room to improve vessel energy efficiency and WAPS have emerged as one of the most attractive tools
… commented Shao Guang Chi Station Manager of Guangzhou Station at DNV Maritime
GSI will apply its naval architecture and marine engineering principles to develop essential technical documentation for the new Rotor Sail’s design integration, while DNV will undertake an Approval in Principle (AiP) assessment to ensure that the design is feasible and verifies that no significant obstacles exist to prevent the design from being realized based on current and foreseeable regulatory and class requirements.
Participating in this joint development project allows us to collaborate with industry partners to unlock the full potential of Rotor Sails on MR Tankers. It supports Hafnia’s decarbonisation strategy to assess and embrace the potential of innovative technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce vessel emissions.
… said Jesper Kristiansen General Manager Technical at Hafnia
Huang Jun, Deputy Chief Engineer of Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI), noted that with new regulations driving the need for lower emissions, the time was right to adopt highly efficient ship designs. He added that integrating Rotor Sails into MR tankers was a necessary step and that, together with their partners, they were committed to delivering vessels that met both environmental and commercial demands.
Over the past few years, wind propulsion solutions have been gaining popularity in the industry. As Luke McEwen, Technical Director at Anemoi Marine Technologies, highlighted to SAFETY4SEA, with wind-propulsion technologies now commonplace in commercial shipping, it would be fantastic for operators and crew to develop skills to gain the maximum benefit from Rotor Sails.
