ENGINEERS at China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC), the world’s largest shipbuilder, have developed one of the globe’s biggest rotor sail systems. The unnamed technology, created at the Luoyang Ship Material Research Institute, has passed full ground tests. It marks a major breakthrough in China’s push for leadership in green ship technology and will help the shipping industry cut carbon emissions.

The Luoyang institute, a CSSC subsidiary specializing in shipbuilding materials, applied its expertise in green composites and wind turbine blades to the design. Each rotor sail measures 5 meters in diameter and 35 meters in height.

Spinning at up to 180 revolutions per minute, it generates over 355 kilonewtons of thrust.

Also known as a Flettner rotor, the device is a large cylinder mounted upright on a ship’s deck. When mechanically spun, its interaction with the surrounding wind creates thrust to propel the vessel. Invented in the 1920s, the technology saw limited use until the 2010s. Now, with growing emphasis on emission reduction, rotor sails are being adopted on bulk carriers and roll-on/roll-off ships.

Project manager Feng Wei noted that shipping carries over 80% of global trade by volume and accounts for about 3% of total carbon emissions. “Wind-assisted propulsion is one of the most practical pathways for immediate emission reductions,” he said.

According to Feng, rotor sails occupy little deck space, do not disrupt cargo operations, require no major ship modifications, and save 5–25% of fuel per vessel. The system also helps owners hedge against oil price swings and future carbon taxes. Featuring smart sensors, it offers easy control and low maintenance.

Leading research organizations project that about 7,000 ships worldwide will adopt wind-assisted propulsion by 2030, rising to roughly 21,000 by 2050.(SD-Agencies)