World's 1st Retrofit on an In-service Vessel Tokyo - May 24, 2024
This marks the first installation of the Wind Challenger on a vessel currently in service by retrofitting. The introduction of the Wind Challenger is expected to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by about 5% on a Japan-Australia voyage and about 8% on a Japan-North America West Coast voyage, compared to a conventional vessel of the same type, thus contributing to reduced GHG emissions during fuel transportation. (Note 3) ![]() CG rendering of the Kurotakisan Maru III equipped with the Wind Challenger. Image by MOL.
MOL will continue to pursue the use of wind-assisted energy-saving technologies such as the Wind Challenger to reduce GHG emissions and contribute to the realization of a low-carbon society. Outline of the vessel Ship Name: Kurotakisan Maru III Ship operator: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. LOA: 234.96 m Breadth: 38.00 m Deadweight tonnage: 89,999 tons Delivery date: December 2, 2021 Shipyard: Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Ship registry: Republic of Panama (Note 1) The Wind Challenger is a device developed by MOL and Oshima Shipbuilding, which converts wind energy to propulsive force using telescoping hard sails. For details, please refer to Wind Challenger | MOL Service Site (mol-service.com/en/). This is MOL's second Wind Challenger-equipped coal carrier, following the "Shofu Maru" for Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. (Note 2) Please refer to the December 2, 2021, press release: 'Kurotakisan Maru III' Delivered - 1st Ship of Next-generaiton Coal Carrier 'EeneX' Series -. (Note 3) Fuel savings and GHG emission reductions from installing the Wind Challenger depend on the ship type, route, and other conditions of the ship on which it is installed, but the effect of the coal carrier Shofu Maru, which was already delivered, has been confirmed, as detailed in the May 15, 2024, press release: "Shofu Maru, World's 1st Wind Challenger-equipped Coal Carrier, Achieves Fuel Savings of 17%." Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. press release ![]() |