By Abbas Nazil
Union Maritime, a UK-based shipowner, has launched its first wind-assisted vessel, ‘Buran’, marking a significant step toward sustainable shipping practices.
The ship is equipped with Norsepower Rotor Sails™, a modern wind propulsion system that harnesses wind energy to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
This launch is part of a broader initiative by Union Maritime to expand its fleet with 34 wind-assisted ships, including six chemical tankers, positioning the company to operate the largest fleet of vessels using this technology globally.
The Rotor Sails™ are expected to generate up to 10 percent of each ship’s annual energy needs from wind.
The ‘Buran’ is the inaugural vessel under Union Maritime’s AeroPower brand, a collaborative initiative that brings together various stakeholders committed to scaling wind-assisted propulsion technology within the maritime sector.
With the integration of the Rotor Sails™, ‘Buran’ is projected to cut fuel consumption by approximately 300 tons per year, equivalent to over 2,000 barrels, and reduce CO₂ emissions by more than 940 tons annually.
The vessel recently embarked on its maiden voyage from Taizhou, China to Singapore.
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Performance analysis conducted in collaboration with Ascenz Marorka demonstrated that vessels equipped with Rotor Sails™ achieve significantly higher efficiency when routes are optimized for wind rather than simply following the shortest path.
On a wind-optimized route, a wind-fitted vessel cut CO₂ emissions by 6.5 percent (from 922.9 to 862.9 tons), in contrast to just a 3.1 percent reduction when taking the shortest route.
The company also used a “digital twin” simulation model based on a sister vessel with a “wind-ready” configuration to further validate the benefits of wind propulsion on actual voyage routes.
The adoption of wind propulsion technology is not only an environmental initiative but also offers economic advantages.
Under new FuelEU Maritime regulations, ships using wind propulsion can benefit from a “reward factor” of up to 5% on reported greenhouse gas intensity.
Reduced emissions translate to fewer EU Allowances (EUAs) needing to be purchased under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), which results in direct cost savings.
To ensure safe and efficient operation of the new technology, Union Maritime has collaborated with the Warsash Maritime Simulation Centre at Solent University, Southampton, to develop a state-of-the-art training program.
This program includes a 3D model of an AeroPower vessel and immersive simulation exercises covering rotor sail mechanics, emergency responses, severe weather navigation, and complex maneuvering scenarios.
