Image Credits: MOL Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines has installed two Wind Challenger hard sails on a liquefied natural gas carrier being built at Hanwha Ocean ’s Geoje shipyard in South Korea. The project marks the first installation of wind-assisted propulsion technology on an LNG carrier. The 174,000-cbm membrane-type LNG carrier is scheduled for delivery in the second half of fiscal year 2026. The vessel will operate under a long-term charter agreement involving MOL Encean and Chevron Asia Pacific Shipping . MOL said the sails are designed to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while allowing normal cargo and terminal operations to continue. The company said the vessel is the world’s first LNG carrier fitted with two Wind Challenger telescopic hard sails. The system was designed to minimise operational disruption, including limiting changes to mooring arrangements and reducing the impact on ship-to-shore activities at LNG terminals. The vessel is about 286 metres long and 46 metres wide. Each Wind Challenger sail is made of fibre-reinforced plastic and can extend to around 49 metres in height. The sails are about 15 metres wide and are fitted near the bow of the ship. Image Credits: MOL The Wind Challenger system was developed by MOL together with Oshima Shipbuilding . MOL first installed the technology on a coal carrier that entered service in 2022. The company has since expanded the system to bulk carrier newbuilds and retrofit projects. MOL worked with Hanwha Ocean and ClassNK to carry out safety and risk assessments. The reviews covered sail placement, visibility from the bridge, emergency operations and other safety measures. French engineering company GTT also reviewed the impact of the sail installation on the vessel’s LNG cargo tank structure. ClassNK granted Approval in Principle for the design in August 2024. Hanwha Ocean said it had successfully completed the installation of the Wind Challenger System on the vessel. Accor