German dry bulk shipping company Oldendorff Carriers announce agreement with Canadian mining company Teck to retrofit a bulk carrier with fuel-saving rotor sails.
The joint investment will involve retrofitting the 100,000 dwt vessel Dietrich Oldendorf with Norsepower Rotor Sails, which will generate additional thrust and reduce fuel consumption during voyages across the Pacific.
By mid-2024, the Dietrich Oldendorf will ironically transport shipments of steelmaking coal from the Port of Vancouver. The installation of the rotor sails, along with other emission savings measures, is expected to result in a 55% reduction in emissions, equivalent to eliminating over 17,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. This reduction is comparable to removing 3,500 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles from the road.
Teck and Oldendorff have worked together to reduce supply chain emissions since November 2021. Through their efforts, an estimated 115,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions have already been eliminated, which is equivalent to removing over 25,000 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles from the road.
Addressing the elephant in the room, burning 100,000 metric tons of coal (a single cargo) emits more than two and half times the amount of CO2 into the atmosphere.
The installation will mark Oldendorff’s first use of rotor sails among its fleet of more than 180 owned and 750 operated ships.
“This partnership to harness wind power in shipping will significantly reduce Teck’s carbon footprint and contribute to the development of green transportation corridors,” said Jonathan Price, President and CEO of Teck. “Teck is committed to collaborating with our customers and suppliers to reduce emissions in our supply chain as part of our climate strategy.”
Patrick Hutchins, CEO of Oldendorff Carriers, also highlighted the significance of the partnership and benefits of harnessing wind power int he transpacific trade.
“We are thrilled to leverage wind power in the transpacific dry bulk trade alongside a forward-thinking partner like Teck. Achieving a decarbonized supply chain requires cooperation and collaboration, and we are prepared to make the necessary joint investments to achieve meaningful emission reductions. With four decades of historical weather data showing the reliability of wind energy in the trade between the Pacific Northwest and Asia, we are confident that this endeavor will be a success,” said Hutchins.
As part of their commitment to sustainability, the rotor sails used in the project are constructed partially from recycled materials sourced from approximately 342,000 plastic bottles.
In addition to wind propulsion, Teck and Oldendorff are also piloting the use of biofuel on another bulk carrier as part of their ongoing efforts to further lower emissions.