Anthony Veder Installs World’s First Wind-Assisted Propulsion On Gas Carrier

Anthony Veder, a gas shipping company, has installed two Ventofoils sails on the Ethylene carrier Coral Patula, making it the world’s first gas carrier to use wind-assisted propulsion.

Anthony Veder installed two VentoFoils sails on the Ethylene carrier Coral Patula, making it the world’s first gas carrier to use wind-assisted propulsion.

The sails developed by Econowind have contributed greatly to the maritime industry’s shift to more sustainable solutions. Later this year, the company plans to equip a sister ship, Coral Pearl, with similar sails.

Anthony Veder is exploring wind power as a viable option for reducing fuel use in the maritime sector by modifying existing vessels like the Coral Patula and Coral Pearl.

This initiative coincides with the company’s commitment to sustainability, which includes aiming for net-zero emissions by 2035.

Anthony Veder is prioritizing immediate measures to reduce carbon emissions, according to Björn van de Weerdhof, the company’s Commercial and Sustainability Director.

Wind-assisted propulsion improves the efficiency of new and existing ships. He said that along with optimizing newbuilds with (bio-) LNG, they are also enhancing the existing fleet’s efficiency to reduce their carbon footprint.

Weerdhof added that the company is looking into other solutions, including optimizing the propulsion train and working with consumers on lower-speed arrivals.

The Chief Operations Officer at Econowind, Rens Groot, informed that a thorough analysis was conducted before selecting the VentoFoils system for the project.

Groot said the method has many advantages, particularly in increasing gas carrier propulsion, which reduces engine power reliance.

Anthony Veder’s leadership in adopting wind-assisted propulsion has been crucial, and Groot added that the vessel is expected to achieve substantial fuel savings and CO2 reductions.

Anthony Veder estimates that using wind energy will reduce fuel usage by roughly 5% for its gas carriers, with a possible savings of over 10% under favourable wind conditions. This effort saves fuel costs and greatly reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Reference: Anthony Veder