Berge Olympus uses four giant steel sails, harnessing wind energy to reduce emissions on its route between Brazil and China.
The Berge Olympus dry bulk carrier is equipped with four wind sails 20 m wide and 37.5 m high. Photo: Berge Bulk
Berge Bulk, a Singapore-based dry bulk carrier, launched its latest model, the Berge Olympus. The cargo ship promises to revolutionize the shipping industry. The groundbreaking innovation behind the new ship is the four BARTech WindWings, built by Yara Marine Technologies. These are giant steel sails designed to harness wind energy, significantly reducing fuel consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, Interesting Engineering reported on October 18.
With the WindWings, Berge Olympus will make the long journey between Brazil and China, a trade route known for its favorable wind conditions. Each WindWing sail is 20 meters wide and 37.5 meters high, much larger than the wing of the world's largest passenger jet, the Airbus A380. They have a total surface area of 3,000 square meters, more than three times the size of the plane.
The environmental impact of the innovative technology is equally impressive. Over the global roadmap, Berge Olympus is expected to save 6 tons of fuel per day, which represents a 20% reduction in fuel consumption and around 19.5 tons of CO2 emissions per day. These figures are part of Berge Bulk’s commitment to sustainable operations.
“At Berge Bulk, we are constantly working to increase the efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of our current fleet. Since 2008, we have reduced our CO2 emissions by 46% per tonne of freight transported over a distance of 1.6 km, surpassing our 2030 target,” said James Marshall, managing director of Berge Bulk.
Marshall highlighted the need to accelerate the transition to carbon-neutral fuels, noting the partnership with BAR Technologies and Yara Marine Technologies, the company behind the WindWing system. Prior to Berge Olympus, WindWing was introduced on the M/V Pyxis Ocean, an 80,000 kg bulk carrier, marking a new milestone. The Pyxis Ocean, part of Mitsubishi Corporation’s MC Shipping subsidiary, completed its maiden voyage from Shanghai to Singapore with two WindWings, demonstrating the feasibility and potential of the technology.
According to WindWings, Berge Olympus is equipped with a coaxial generator system powered by the main engine. This advanced system provides power to the vessel, eliminating the need for auxiliary engines at sea, saving fuel and reducing emissions. This is a breakthrough development that brings Berge Bulk closer to its goal of sustainable operation.
An Khang (According to Interesting Engineering )
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