Wind, Battery Propulsion Tech Recognized With Ship Efficiency Awards

The Norled-owned ferry also won the Seatrade award for clean shipping earlier this year.

Battery and wind propulsion systems were picked as winners in two categories at this week's Ship Efficiency Awards 2015. 

Norsepower Oy Ltd (Norsepower) won the award for Energy Efficiency Solution for its Norsepower Rotor Sail Solution.

The device, said to be a modernized version of the Flettner rotor, is a spinning cylinder that uses the Magnus effect to harness wind power to propel a ship.

"When the wind conditions are favourable, Norsepower Rotor Sails allow the main engines to be throttled back, saving fuel and reducing emissions while providing the power needed to maintain speed and voyage time," said Norsepower.

"Rotor sails can be used with new vessels or can be retrofitted on existing ships without off-hire costs."

Norsepower CEO Tuomas Riski said: "Wind at sea is a no brainer – it is an eternal free source of power. Norsepower is very proud of being the first actor on the market with a practical, tested and class-approved auxiliary wind propulsion solution."

Also winning an award was battery-powered car and passenger ferry Ampere, owned by Norway-based Norled, which the award for environmental technology.

The DNV GL-classed vesselis one of three ferries operating between Lavik and Oppedal, the classification society said. 

According to Claes Skat-Rørdam, fouling control marketing manager at Hempel A/S, who is also acting as the award's sponsor, the ship has been a great "success" for Norled.

He added that the Ampere consumes 50 percent less energy compared with a traditional diesel ferry on the same route.

"The Ship Efficiency Award is not only recognition for the hard work we have done with our project partners, but it also confirms our efforts and contribution to the global climate goals by reducing air pollution," said Tord Helland, Finance Director at Norled.

"An electrical ferry that can save up to one million litres of fuel annually, thereby preventing 2,640 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, can make a strong statement in this regard." 

This year's Ship Efficiency Awards 2015 was hosted with Lloyd's Register and organized by Fathom.

Earlier this year, the Ampere also won the 2015 Seatrade Award for clean shipping.