South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean has revealed images of the world’s first LNG (liquefied natural gas) carrier equipped with wind-assisted propulsion technology.
The vessel, being built for Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), is fitted with two Wind Challenger systems.
The tanker is expected to be delivered later this year and will subsequently operate under a long-term charter agreement with Chevron.
The rigid sail technology, developed by MOL and its partners over the past decade, has previously been used mainly on bulk carriers transporting dry cargo.
According to company estimates, the two sails installed on the new LNG tanker could reduce fuel consumption by up to 12% per voyage, depending on weather and sea conditions.
Integrating wind propulsion into LNG carriers is considered technically complex due to onboard gas systems, safety zones, and vessel height limitations. These factors have slowed the LNG sector’s transition toward wind-assisted technologies compared with other ship types.
