Cattewater Harbour recently welcomed Union Maritime’s Shamal on her inaugural visit to the commercial port. As one of the UK-based shipping operator’s newest wind-assisted vessels, Shamal is instantly recognisable by her two prominent Norsepower Rotor Sails.
Entering the Cattewater under pilotage – with assistance from tugs Prince Rock and Citadel – the 149-metre, 18,500 DWT vessel berthed at Cattedown Wharves to discharge her cargo.
Norsepower Rotor Sails are large, motor-driven spinning cylinders installed on ship decks to provide auxiliary wind propulsion. By harnessing crosswinds to generate forward thrust through the Magnus effect, these mechanical sails reduce engine load, lowering vessel fuel consumption and carbon emissions by 5% to 25%.
As part of a fleet modernisation strategy launched in 2024, Union Maritime partnered with Norsepower to equip several newbuild tankers with this technology. Combining wind-assisted propulsion with conventional engine power allows modern vessels like Shamal to improve fuel efficiency while complying with increasingly strict international marine environmental standards.
Crew readiness for Union Maritime’s wind-assisted fleet is supported in partnership with the Warsash Maritime Simulation Centre at Solent University. Specialised training modules simulate both the physical layout and dynamic behaviour of Norsepower Rotor Sails across various conditions – from adverse weather to manoeuvring in confined waters – ensuring crews are fully prepared to operate the technology safely and effectively.
