The world's first Aframax tanker equipped with wind sail-assisted propulsion technology and built by a Chinese shipbuilding company was officially named on Wednesday, featuring a groundbreaking dual-propulsion system that integrates fuel oil and wind power for energy saving.
The tanker, built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited, has been christened "Brands Hatch," a name inspired by a technically challenging racing circuit in Britain.
It will be officially delivered and will start operations in the coming days.
This massive tanker spans nearly 250 meters in length and 44 meters in width, comparable in size to two and a half football fields. It has the capacity to transport over 800,000 barrels of crude oil in a single voyage.
The highlight of the tanker is its three towering 40-meter sails. During navigation, these sails stand vertically on the deck, complementing traditional fuel oil with wind power to enhance energy efficiency.
"This is China's first Aframax tanker equipped with rigid wing sails. Unlike conventional canvas sails, these are made from fiberglass composite materials. Each sail unit consists of three blades, with each blade precisely controlled by hydraulic actuators at the base and an intelligent control system -- proving more adept at wind tracking than even the most experienced captain. Like sunflowers following sunlight, the system automatically captures optimal wind directions in real time to maximize energy efficiency," said Liu Junhong, technical director of the Design and Research Institute at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
The tanker pioneers a groundbreaking dual-propulsion system integrated with fuel oil and wind power, delivering cleaner and more energy-efficient operations.
Liu further elaborated on the reason for installing these sails on the tanker.
"The Aframax tanker is a mainstream vessel internationally and is highly popular in the market. Its design features a broad hull and stable navigation, especially on the monsoon routes in the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, where wind power is abundant, making it an ideal track for wind energy utilization. Simply put, when the sea breeze is strong, the sails can offer an additional push, reducing the fuel consumption of the main engine and thus achieving energy savings," Liu said.
"Based on our test results, under ideal sea conditions with a 20-knot sea breeze, fuel conservation of 14.5 tons per day can be achieved, resulting in a reduction of 45 tons in carbon dioxide emissions. When calculated using average voyage data, fuel saving ranging from about 5 percent to 12 percent can be attained, culminating in an annual reduction of 5000 tons in carbon emissions," she said.
According to Liu, in the future, the wind sail system, featuring an intelligent control system for easy operation of a single sail weighing over 200 tons from the cabin platform, will also be applied to bulk carriers, 150,000-ton and 300,000-ton oil tankers, and other vessels with spacious deck areas..
World's first wind sail-assisted Aframax tanker officially named
