Norsepower opens ‘world’s first’ dedicated rotor sail factory in China

November 27, 2024, by Fatima Bahtić

Finnish wind propulsion provider Norsepower has opened the ‘world’s first’ dedicated rotor sail factory in Dafeng, China, to support its commitment to sustainable maritime innovation.

As disclosed, the new factory is located near key shipping routes and shipyards. It will initially produce 50 Norsepower rotor sails per year.

According to the company, production capacity will increase to 100 units annually by the end of 2027. This expansion aims to meet the growing demand for sustainable maritime technologies. It will also support Norsepower’s goal of delivering fuel-saving and emission-reducing products to the industry.

“Norsepower is the pioneer of the entire industry. It coined the term “rotor sail”, opened the rotor sail market. Norsepower radically modernised the Flettner rotor concept, transforming it into a future proof, data-driven product,” Heikki Pöntynen, CEO of Norsepower, remarked.

Anu Vuori, Consul General of Finland in Shanghai, spoke at the opening ceremony, emphasizing the importance of the Finnish–Chinese cooperation.

“This facility embodies the best of Finnish innovation and Chinese capability, and their shared bond as sea-faring nations. Norsepower’s work here in Dafeng shows how we can address global challenges together, bringing high-tech solutions that will benefit both our economies and our environment,” Vuori added.

“We are honoured to welcome Norsepower to Dafeng Distric here in Yancheng. This factory not only brings new job opportunities and strengthens our industrial base but also represents a significant step forward in sustainable maritime solutions. We are excited to support Norsepower in delivering advanced rotor sails to the global market,” Jing Tang, Vice Mayor of Yancheng City, commented.

Norsepower, founded in 2012, focuses on the development and implementation of wind propulsion solutions. The company’s primary business focus revolves around rotor sails, a technology designed to harness wind energy for enhanced vessel efficiency.

In July this year, Norsepower signed a deal with UK shipping company Union Maritime Limited (UML) to equip new product tankers with rotor sails. The vessels, designed by Shanghai Odely Marine Engineering, will be chemical tankers with a capacity of 18,500 dwt. Each ship will be fitted with two rotor sails, featuring Norsepower’s proprietary explosion-protection design to meet the stringent safety standards required for product tankers.

Meanwhile, the company finished the installation of its technology on several vessels, including the 100,400 dwt Post Panamax bulk carrier Chinook Oldendorff, Oceanus Aurora, a dual-fuel very large gas carrier (VLGC) owned by Japanese shipping company IINO Kaiun Kaisha (IINO Lines), and the 2014-built Camellia Dream, a 200,000-ton class bulk carrier currently employed under a mid-term contract for transportation of iron ore for Brazilian mining giant Vale.

Norsepower also recently received a type approval design certificate (TADC) from classification society DNV for its explosion-proof (EX) version of the 28m x 4m Norsepower rotor sail (NPRS).