Union Maritime commits to wind-assisted power on 34 newbuilds

Union Maritime is backing wind-assisted propulsion through installation contracts for its vessels and an equity investment in a wind-assisted propulsion technology developer.

Although it controls more than a dozen dry bulk carriers and three offshore vessels, the UK-headquartered owner and operator is most active in the chemical tanker trade, and its latest propulsion contract will see the company install wind-assisted propulsion on the newbuilds it has on order.

The wind-assisted propulsion contract covers 34 vessels in total, including 14 LR2 tankers, 12 chemical tankers and eight MRs. Union Maritime lists a total of 35 newbuild vessels in its fleet on its website, with the vessels all set for delivery between 2025-2027.

Union Maritime said it is working with BAR Technologies, the developer of a rigid sail technology known as WindWings. The technology claims to deliver average daily savings of 1.5 tonnes of fuel per wing and offset 6 tonnes of CO2 emissions per wing "on typical global routes". Union Maritime said it is also working with Norsepower to install rotor sails on smaller vessels.

In addition to the large contract for the wind-assisted propulsion systems, the company said it is working out a deal to invest in BAR Technologies.

"Union Maritime is... working with BAR Technologies’ shareholders on a significant strategic equity investment into the company, reflecting the companies’ long-term commitment and strategic alignment. That process is in its final stages," the company said, noting it will provide more detail on the deal "in the near future".  

According to Union Maritime, wind propulsion is the central feature of its environmental initiatives, while the company is also deploying dual-fuel LNG engines on up to eight LR2s.

• Bulk carrier’s wind-assisted propulsion system drops energy consumption by more than 30%
• Autonomous navigation tech to be introduced for WindWings-equipped vessels
• New wind-assisted sail technology begins land-based testing  
• Cargill’s wind propulsion trial data shows technology’s ’potential’
• Union Maritime’s LR2 tankers to sport WindWings