Berge Bulk unveils wind power-assisted sailing cargo ship

Dry bulk ship owners Berge Bulk have today (October 17, 2023) unveiled Berge Olympus, the company’s Newcastlemax bulker retrofitted with BARTech WindWings developed by Yara Marine Technologies.

Berge Bulk

The WindWings installation is part of Berge Bulk’s ambition to become carbon neutral by 2025, and marks the Berge Olympus as the world’s most powerful sailing cargo ship.

With four WindWings installed, each with an aerodynamic span of 37.5m in height and 20m in width, Berge Bulk said the Berge Olympus will save six tonnes of fuel per day on an average worldwide route and reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 19.5 tonnes per day.

This initiative aligns with the new IMO goals to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by 2050, as well as suggested check-points for international shipping to reach net zero emissions for 2030 (by at least 20 per cent) and 2040 (by at least 70 per cent, striving for 80 per cent).

Berge Olympus has also been fitted with a shaft generator system, which is driven by the main engine to supply electric power to the vessel, thus saving fuel and reducing emissions. With a 1MW capacity, it can eliminate the need to operate auxiliary engines while at sea.

Register now to continue reading

Thanks for visiting The Engineer. You’ve now reached your monthly limit of news stories. Register for free to unlock unlimited access to all of our news coverage, as well as premium content including opinion, in-depth features and special reports.  

Benefits of registering

  • In-depth insights and coverage of key emerging trends

  • Unrestricted access to special reports throughout the year

  • Daily technology news delivered straight to your inbox