Wind-assisted propulsion systems manufacturer Norsepower has opened what it calls “the world’s first dedicated rotor sail factory” in the coastal district of Dafeng, China. The company initially plans to produce 50 Norsepower Rotor Sail (NPRS) units annually at this facility, scaling up to 100 per year by the end of 2027.
The Dafeng site was picked due to its proximity to key shipyards and shipping routes, and will comprise “a paragon of combined know-how, featuring a diverse team of skilled engineers, scientists and motivated industry professionals”, Norsepower says. The move should help Norsepower to extend its presence in the global wind-assisted propulsion market, which the company estimates as having a value of €60 billion.
Norsepower tells The Naval Architect: “Currently, a team of around 40 people is working at the Dafeng factory. After the ramp-up to 60 NPRS units per year, the number of people at the factory will be around 50.” Even more will be hired as the output climbs to 100 units per year, the company adds.
Norsepower’s rotary sails are designed for ships featuring a minimum length of 80-100m (for single-hull vessels), and with no restrictions on maximum length. The company adds: “They are particularly well-suited to tankers, LNG carriers, Ro-Ros, Ro-Paxes, general cargo ships and bulk carriers, as well as cruise ships and ferries. Each installation project requires thorough preliminary analysis and meticulous planning. This involves assessing a range of variable factors, including the environmental conditions in which the rotor sails will operate, to ensure the installation achieves maximum efficiency.”
Norsepower says that it has installed 29 sails on 16 ships since its formation in 2012, thereby saving around 26,000tonnes of CO2 emissions to date. “In 2021, we made history by completing the installation of the world’s first tiltable rotor sail on Sea-Cargo’s 154m x 23m SC Connector, Norway’s largest sailing vessel, operating in the North Sea,” the company explains. “That same year, we installed five further tiltable sails on board the 340m newbuild bulk carrier Sea Zhoushan, the largest ship ever to be outfitted with the fuel-saving, emissions-reducing technology.”
Earlier this year, Norsepower was contracted to supply six rotor sails to three transatlantic Ro-Ro vessels under build for Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA). This Deltamarin-designed trio will be chartered by aircraft manufacturer Airbus and used to carry aircraft components, with each 167m vessel boasting the capacity to transport 70 x 40’ containers and six single-aisle aircraft sub-assembly sets. The three vessels are scheduled for delivery from China’s CSSC Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group in 2026.
Norsepower states: “Repeat orders and new deals are now being signed at an ever-growing pace. Norsepower currently has an order backlog of 34 rotor sails to be installed on nearly 20 ships by the end of 2025 alone: a clear sign that shipowners and operators are actively seeking out green solutions to help them curb emissions and slash fuel consumption.”
