MITSUI O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Chevron Shipping have announced an agreement to install the Wind Challenger hard sail system on a newbuild LNG carrier.

The move will see MOL and Oshima Shipbuilding’s Wind Challenger system installed on an LNG carrier currently under construction, with the vessel under long term charter to Chevron Asia Pacific Shipping from MOL Encean.

The Japanese shipping line said the agreement with Chevron Shipping, a subsidiary of Chevron U.S.A., is part of their ongoing commitment to lower the carbon intensity of their operations.

In August this year, MOL says it obtained and approval in principle from ClassNK for installation of the Wind Challanger onboard the newbuild, which MOL claims marks the world’s first LNG carrier to be equipped with wind-assisted ship propulsion systems.

The vessel is currently under construction at Hanwha Ocean company’s Geoje Shipyard, and is scheduled for delivery in 2026.

In addition to the robust design of Wind Challenger itself, MOL says additional onboard safety features include a fully enclosed navigation bridge, and a lookout station on the vessel’s fore deck to further enhance visibility.

The installation position of the Wind Challenger aims to minimise impact on the existing design of membrane type LNG carriers, for tradability purposes, MOL said.

It will retain the existing mooring arrangement and thereby minimise impacts on shi-shore compatibility, together with limited impact on the vessel’s windage area.

Takeshi Hashimoto, president and CEO of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines said his company is delighted to be able to extend the Wind Challenger project to LNG carriers, in addition to the two delivered Wind Challenger-equipped bulkers and other ongoing projects.

“Achieving GHG reduction in the maritime transport of LNG, which is increasingly in demand worldwide as a transition fuel, is a very important mission for us,” Mr Hashimoto said.

“This project will undoubtedly be a significant milestone towards achieving ‘net zero GHG emissions by 2050’, a medium to long-term goal of the Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Group.”

President of Chevron Shipping Company, Barbara Pickering said, “We’re proud to partner with MOL in Wind Challenger’s industry-first LNG installation”.

“This is another example of using novel approaches in hard-to-abate sectors to reduce carbon intensity in our LNG fleet.”

The Wind Challenger system saves fuel consumption onboard ships by using hard sails to harness the power of the wind to propel the vessel.