The ferry company Scandlines announced that it had signed an agreement with Norsepower (Norwegian maritime company) to install a Rotor Sail (wind-assisted powerplant) on the hybrid ferry Copenhagen.
MS Copenhagen (operating the route between Rostock Germany and Gedser Denmark/Falster Island) belongs to world's largest fleet of hybrid ferries. Since 2013, Scandlines has invested EUR 300+ million in building and retrofitting vessels from conventional diesel-driven to hybrid ferries. Via the addition of Norsepower technology, the ship will further reduce emissions.
Preparations for the retrofit are due to take place in November with the installation scheduled for the second quarter of 2020. Copenhagen is set to be retrofitted with a large-sized Rotor Sail unit that is 30 meters in height and 5 meters in diameter.
The Norsepower Rotor Sail Solution is Flettner rotor's modernized version. In case wind conditions are favorable, it enables a center propeller and electric propulsion thrusters to be throttled back, thus reducing emissions, while providing the power needed to maintain voyage time and speed. As it generates supplementary thrust from wind, this solution is compatible with all emissions saving technologies. The route between Gedser and Rostok features "the most favorable prevailing wind direction and conditions for employing the rotor."
According to Scandlines CEO Soren Poulsgaard Jensen, by installing a Rotor Sail, they could reduce CO2 emissions on the Rostock-Gedser route by 4 to 5%.