World's first oil tanker adopting wind sail propulsion named by Chinese shipbuilder

The world's first Aframax oil tanker adopting wind sail propulsion was named on Wednesday at China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co Ltd, according to the Shanghai-based shipyard.

Named as "Brands Hatch", the tanker is built for the United Kingdom's Union Maritime Ltd (UML). It is aimed to regenerate the sector with modern technologies and clean energy, and try to bring new choices and practical pathways for the shipping industry to achieve green and low carbon transformation.

The three wing sails, each with a height of more than 40 meters, can implement real-time intelligent dynamic adjustment based on meteorological data. In brief, it can leverage extra power for the oil tanker and substantially cut fuel consumption, reduce carbon emission as well as effectively improve the vessel's operation efficiency.

Under normal sea conditions, the technology can save about 14.5 tons of fuel and 45 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per day. Each year, it is projected to reduce about 12 percent of fuel consumption and nearly 5,000 tons of carbon emissions annually, according to Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding.