日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Sep 08, 2026 (Tue)

An LNG carrier equipped with a wind propulsion system developed by MOL will enter service

Equipped with two hard-wing sails

　【Geoje, South Korea = Satoshi Yamada】 An LNG (liquefied natural gas) carrier equipped with “Wind Ch ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80%E3%80%90Geoje%2C+South+Korea+%3D+Satoshi+Yamada%E3%80%91+An+LNG+%28liquefied+natural+gas%29+carrier+equipped+with+%E2%80%9CWind+Challenger%2C%E2%80%9C+a+hard+sail+wind+power+propulsion+system+developed+by+MOL%2C+will+enter+service.+Equipped+with+two+Wind+Challenger+units%2C+it+is+expected+to+reduce+fuel+consumption+and+greenhouse+gas+%28GHG%29+emissions+by+up+to+12%25.+This+is+the+first+time+in+the+world+that+a+wind-assisted+propulsion+system+%28WAPS%29+has+been+adopted+for+an+LNG+carrier.+MOL%2C+which+has+the+world%E2%80%99s+largest+LNG+fleet%2C+will+lead+the+decarbonization+of+LNG+transportation+by+harnessing+the+power+of+wind.+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80On+September+7%2C+MOL+showed+reporters+an+LNG+carrier+equipped+with+two+Wind+Challenger+units+at+South+Korea%E2%80%99s+major+shipbuilder+Hanwha+Ocean%E2%80%99s+Geoje+Shipyard+in+Geoje.+The+vessel+will+be+completed+at+the+end+of+September.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80MOL+Global+Ship+Management%2C+a+wholly+owned+subsidiary+of+MOL%2C+will+be+responsible+for+managing+the+174%2C000-cubic-meter+vessel.+After+completion%2C+it+will+engage+in+LNG+transportation+under+a+long-term+contract+with+U.S.-based+Big+Oil+Chevron.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Wind+Challenger+is+a+technology+that+uses+sails+to+harness+wind+power+for+ship+propulsion.+Based+on+industry-academia+collaborative+research+centered+on+the+University+of+Tokyo%2C+MOL+developed+and+commercialized+it+in+collaboration+with+Oshima+Shipbuilding.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+sails+on+the+ship+use+high-precision+sensors+to+detect+wind+direction+and+speed+and+are+automatically+controlled+to+optimize+their+height+and+orientation.+Its+distinguishing+feature+is+that+the+sails+are+retractable+and+made+of+lightweight+FRP+%28fiber-reinforced+plastic%29%2C+allowing+them+to+be+enlarged+while+ensuring+safety.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80To+date%2C+one+Wind+Challenger+unit+has+been+installed+on+each+of+two+90%2C000-+to+100%2C000-DWT+coal+carriers+and+one+64%2C000-DWT+Ultramax+bulker%2C+and+its+effectiveness+has+been+confirmed+through+commercial+operations.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80This+time%2C+two+Wind+Challenger+units%2C+each+adjustable+in+three+stages+and+measuring+up+to+approximately+49+meters+high+and+15+meters+wide%2C+were+installed+on+an+LNG+carrier.+This+is+also+the+first+time+that+two+units+have+been+installed+on+a+single+vessel.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Annual+average+fuel+savings+of+6%25+to+7%25+are+expected.+On+the+Atlantic+route+%28the+Gulf+of+Mexico%E2%80%93Europe%29%2C+a+reduction+of+up+to+12%25+is+also+expected+based+on+the+average+per+voyage.+Further+reductions+are+also+expected+by+combining+it+with+weather+routing+that+supports+optimal+voyage+planning.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Switching+fuels+is+effective+in+reducing+GHG+emissions+from+ships%2C+but+%E2%80%9CLNG+carriers+use+natural+gas+%28boil+off+gas%29+generated+by+the+natural+evaporation+of+cargo+during+voyages+as+fuel%2C+so+achieving+net+zero+will+be+difficult+unless+the+cargo+itself+becomes+green+LNG%2C+such+as+synthetic+methane%2C%E2%80%9C+said+Ryosuke+Abe%2C+Team+Manager+of+the+Environment+and+Innovation+Team+in+LNG+%26+Ethane+Unit+1+of+the+LNG+%26+Ethane+Business+Group.+Therefore%2C+%E2%80%9CReducing+absolute+fuel+consumption+becomes+more+important+than+for+other+vessel+types%2C%E2%80%9C+he+said.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80MOL+therefore+envisaged+adopting+its+proprietary+Wind+Challenger+technology+for+LNG+carriers.+While+repeatedly+conducting+technical+studies+with+shipyards+and+others%2C+the+company+visited+planned+ports+of+call+around+the+world+to+seek+their+understanding.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Regarding+the+installation+of+the+system+on+LNG+carriers%2C+%E2%80%9CThere+were+constraints%2C+such+as+not+being+able+to+install+it+near+tanks+carrying+hazardous+cargo+and+limited+propulsion+benefits+when+the+two+sails+were+too+close+together%2C%E2%80%9C+said+Yuta+Orito%2C+Senior+Lead+of+the+Wind+Challenger+Team+in+the+Ship+Technical+Unit.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80To+maximize+the+benefits+of+installation+while+avoiding+hazardous+areas%2C+emphasis+was+placed+on+positioning+the+sails+far+enough+apart.+Because+the+decision+to+install+Wind+Challenger+was+made+after+the+LNG+carrier+had+already+been+contracted%2C+the+hull+structure+was+also+modified.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Regarding+regulatory+requirements+for+visibility+from+the+bridge%2C+the+company+held+repeated+discussions+with+the+shipyard%2C+classification+societies%2C+and+the+flag+state%2C+achieving+an+arrangement+that+met+those+requirements.+In+addition%2C+a+fully+enclosed+bridge+and+AI+%28artificial+intelligence%29-based+forward-monitoring+cameras+were+adopted+to+minimize+the+impact+of+the+angles+obstructed+by+the+sails.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+second+newbuilding+LNG+carrier+equipped+with+two+Wind+Challenger+units+is+also+scheduled+to+be+completed+at+Hanwha+Ocean+by+the+end+of+this+year.+The+second+vessel+will+be+a+174%2C000-cubic-meter+LNG+carrier+for+Tokyo+Gas.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80MOL+is+also+considering+installing+four+Wind+Challengers+on+LNG+carriers.+MOL+is+jointly+developing+a+new+vessel+design+with+South+Korea%E2%80%99s+HD+Hyundai+Heavy+Industries+and+Samsung+Heavy+Industries%2C+and+expects+fuel+consumption+reductions+of+up+to+approximately+30%25+per+voyage+and+between+15%25+and+20%25+on+an+annual+average.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80MOL+is+involved+in+a+fleet+of+104+LNG+carriers%2C+one+of+the+largest+in+the+world.+The+newbuilding+order+backlog+stands+at+22+vessels.+While+demand+for+LNG+is+increasing+as+a+low-carbon+fuel+that+serves+as+a+bridge+to+a+decarbonized+society%2C+reducing+GHG+emissions+across+the+entire+supply+chain+remains+a+major+challenge.+MOL+will+lead+the+decarbonization+of+LNG+carriers+with+Wind+Challenger+and+meet+charterers%E2%80%99+environmental+needs.+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E4%BF%A1%E9%A0%BC%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E5%A6%A5%E5%BD%93%E6%80%A7%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%AE%E7%9A%84%E3%81%B8%E3%81%AE%E9%81%A9%E5%90%88%E6%80%A7%E3%82%92%E5%90%AB%E3%82%81%E3%80%81%E6%98%8E%E7%A4%BA%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E9%BB%99%E7%A4%BA%E3%81%AB%E3%82%82%E3%80%81%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8B%E4%BF%9D%E8%A8%BC%E3%82%82%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%9B%E3%82%93%E3%80%82%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%8C%E3%80%81%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%A4%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E3%82%92%E8%AA%8D%E8%AD%98%E3%83%BB%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%82%92%E5%87%BA%E5%8A%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%E3%81%93%E3%81%A8%E3%82%92%E5%8D%81%E5%88%86%E3%81%AB%E7%90%86%E8%A7%A3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE%E3%81%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%99%E3%80%82%3Cbr%3E

商船三井、LNG船で風力推進。世界初、最大12%燃料削減

2026/09/08(火)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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