Norsepower, the global leader in wind propulsion, has secured a new agreement to deliver six of its industry-proven Norsepower Rotor Sails™ for a fleet of newbuild tankers commissioned by GEFO Shipping Group. These newbuild vessels, designed by Ship Design & Consult GmbH (SDC), and constructed by Nantong Xiangyu Shipbuilding., will be delivered between 2026 and 2028 with the rotor sails installed.
May 28, 2025, Helsinki, Finland: Helsinki, Finland – This deal represents the first collaboration between Norsepower, GEFO, and the shipbuilder Nantong Xiangyu Shipbuilding, and marks another major step in accelerating wind propulsion adoption across European-owned fleets.
The agreement covers six tankers across two distinct designs:
- Four 3,850 DWT chemical tankers, each to be equipped with one 20mx4m Norsepower Rotor Sail™
- Two 7,900 DWT chemical tankers, each to be equipped with one 28mx4m Norsepower Rotor Sail™
All six rotor sails will feature Norsepower’s EX-compliant design, certified for use on vessels transporting flammable cargoes and compliant with all class and safety requirements. These rotor sails will be manufactured at Norsepower’s unique dedicated factory in China, and delivered to the yard fully assembled, tested and ready for installation.
Mr. Dr.-Ing. Henning Brauer, GEFO’s Technical Director, commented: “At GEFO, we are committed to building a future-ready fleet that meets the highest standards of environmental performance and operational efficiency. Partnering with Norsepower allows us to integrate proven wind propulsion technology into our newbuilds from day one — supporting both our sustainability targets and our long-term competitiveness.”
The six-vessel order will be fulfilled by Nantong Xiangyu Shipbuilding, a prominent Chinese yard building for leading international shipping clients. This deal represents both GEFO’s and Nantong Xiangyu’s first collaboration with Norsepower — further expanding Norsepower’s presence in Asia and deepening its role as a strategic partner in sustainable shipbuilding.
The vessels were designed by renowned German naval architecture firm SDC Ship Design & Consult GmbH, with integrated wind propulsion considered from the earliest design stages to ensure optimal performance and operational efficiency.
Additionally, GEFO will also be able to benefit from the Norsepower Digital Dimension — which provides access to the AI-powered Norsepower Sentient Control™ system and the secure, cloud-based data infrastructure of Norsepower Cloud. This ecosystem enables precise real-time performance optimisation, predictive maintenance, and full transparency on emissions savings for the customer.
“This is a landmark agreement for Norsepower, not just because it involves two new customers and six vessels — but because it signals a fundamental shift in how wind propulsion is perceived in commercial shipping,” said Heikki Pöntynen, CEO of Norsepower. “We are no longer talking about one-off pilot installations; we are now securing full fleet commitments. That is a clear sign we have not only opened the market, but we are now leading it — both in terms of proven delivery capacity and customer trust. And with access to the Norsepower Digital Dimension, including our AI-powered Norsepower Sentient Control™ and Norsepower Cloud, our customers are fully equipped to maximise the return on their investment from day one.”
The six newbuild vessels have received support from the German Government’s Namkue Fund (Nachhaltige Modernisierung von Küstenschiffen), a financial instrument aimed at promoting sustainable coastal shipping and accelerating decarbonisation technologies.
The first vessels in the series are scheduled for delivery in early 2026, with Norsepower Rotor Sails™ installed shortly after hull completion at the shipyard.
