Finland’s Bluetech has teamed up with NYSE-listed INSW to create the ‘SeaWasp’ tanker vessel, designed primarily for wind propulsion while remaining compatible with INSW’s MR fleet operations. With assistance from Norsepower, Bluetech enhanced its BT50 design to maximize thrust using two 35-meter Rotor Sails, achieving savings of up to 876 kW on a route from San Francisco to South Korea—translating to approximately 597.2 metric tons of fuel savings annually.
The design modifications are projected to contribute 104 kW or 71.5 metric tons of these savings, improving overall vessel performance by about 13.5% under certain conditions. The project also assessed savings potential on various routes, showing that the SeaWasp could save 185.9 metric tons or 275 kW annually on the South Korea to Singapore route, thanks to favorable wind conditions.
Bluetech’s Director of Energy Savings Solutions, Sam Robin, emphasized that when wind propulsion benefits are limited, the vessel’s core design efficiency becomes crucial. The BT50 is already around 12% more efficient than typical tankers. Additionally, a new fin design, ‘blueSURF’, showed promising power-saving potential in CFD analyses. Modifications above the waterline, including an aerodynamic upper deck, further enhance efficiency.
