The bulk carrier Afros, the first vessel of its type to be fitted with Rotor Sails, has completed a second intermediate survey with no reported issues found on its wind propulsion system after more than eight years in operation.
The inspection was carried out by Lloyd’s Register at Jiangsu Watts Energy & Engineering Co on April 13 and covered the vessel’s four Rotor Sails installed by Anemoi Marine Technologies.
Installed in early 2018 on the 64,000 DWT Ultramax bulk carrier owned by Blue Planet Shipping, the system has now logged more than eight years of continuous trading service.
According to operational data released by Anemoi, the vessel completed 154 voyages, generating fuel savings of 1,340 tonnes and cutting well-to-wake CO2 emissions by almost 5,000 tonnes.
The Rotor Sails also maintained operational availability above 95% while the vessel carried out around 200 port calls, highlighting the technology’s ability to operate alongside normal commercial trading patterns.
The results are notable because the sails installed on Afros were considerably smaller than the company’s current designs. Anemoi said the performance data scales closely with results now being achieved by its larger Rotor Sail installations.
Nick Contopoulos, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Anemoi, said the latest survey provides independent confirmation that Rotor Sail systems can remain reliable over long operating periods.
He added that the findings should help reduce uncertainty for shipowners considering wind-assisted propulsion technologies as pressure grows to improve vessel efficiency and reduce emissions.
The efficiency gains achieved on Afros also lowered the vessel’s IMO Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) rating by about 4.2%, extending its compliance profile under international efficiency rules.
Blue Planet Shipping Managing Director Nikos Apodiakos said the vessel has traded with 32 different charterers since the Rotor Sails were installed, showing that the technology has not limited its commercial flexibility or spot market employment.
