Berge Rederi inks rotor sail deal for North Sea general cargo vessels

Norwegian shipowner Berge Rederi and wind propulsion systems provider Norsepower has inked a deal to equip two cutting-edge general cargo carriers with Norsepower Rotor Sails™.

These 130-metre newbuild vessels, designed by Marine Design and Consulting AS (MDC) and constructed by Jiangsu SOHO Marine Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., will be delivered with the rotor sails installed.

The first vessel is expected to launch by the end of 2025.

In addition to Norsepower rotor sails, the ships will feature battery packs and shaft generators, enabling short-distance hybrid-electric operation.

Each vessel will be equipped with two fixed 24m x 4m Norsepower rotor sails, specially optimized for harsh conditions like snow, ice, rain, and high winds often encountered along the Northern Sea routes.

Berge Rederi, based on the island of Hitra, Norway, operates a fleet of self-discharging bulk cargo vessels ranging from 3,700 to 13,000 dwt.

“This project was designed for the extreme conditions of the Northen Sea, and we are proud that Berge Rederi chose Norsepower as their partner,” said Marcus Sannholm, head of sales at Norsepower.

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