Wärtsilä Inks Deal to Sell Rotor Sails

The technology group Wärtsilä said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) tied to a License and Cooperation agreement with U.K.-based Anemoi Marine Technologies for the future sales and servicing of Rotor Sail solutions to the shipping industry.

Rotor Sails, also referred to as Flettner Rotors, are comprised of vertical cylinders which, when driven to rotate, harness the renewable power of the wind to propel ships. These highly efficient mechanical sails capitalize on the aerodynamic phenomenon known as the Magnus Effect to provide additional thrust to vessels and deliver significant fuel and emission savings.

Under the agreement signed October 22, Wärtsilä will fully integrate Anemoi Marine Technologies’ Rotor Sails within its Propulsion Business, offering the solution for newbuild and retrofit for most vessel types, but focusing at first on bulk carriers and tankers. 

“Our patented designs overcome operational constraints such as air draft and cargo handling, making the technology suitable for the majority of shipping sectors. As the industry focuses on emission reduction targets and energy saving, we are collaborating with Wärtsilä to strengthen our offering and facilitate the global uptake of our Rotor Sails by offering clients a full end-to-end solution including sales, supply and lifecycle support,” said Kim Diederichsen, CEO of Anemoi Marine Technologies.

Wärtsilä said offering wind propulsion solutions as part of propulsion offering will further facilitate compliance with the IMO’s Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) while adding to the company’s efforts to increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

Bernd Bertram, Vice President, Propulsion, Wärtsiä Marine Power, said, “Wärtsilä is committed to fully supporting its customers by reducing their operating costs and reducing the environmental impact of their operations. This agreement further enhances our ability to meet this commitment, and we look forward to working closely with Anemoi Marine Technologies to realize the potential of this technology.”