After opting to fit two LR2 tankers under construction with BAR Tech wind-assisted ship propulsion technology, UK shipowner Union Maritime has decided to deploy the technology on 34 of its newbuilds. The 34 newbuilds, 14 of which are LR2s, 12 are chemical tankers, and eight are MRs, will benefit from BAR Technologies’ WindWings sails which, according to the company, can deliver average daily savings of 1.5 tonnes of fuel per wing and 6 tonnes of CO2 per wing on typical global routes. This is not the only cooperation of this kind for Union Maritime as it is also working with Norsepower for rotor sails on smaller vessels. Apart from wind propulsion, the shipowner is deploying dual-fuel LNG engines on up to eight LR2s. The first two vessels the UK company agreed to equip with WindWings rigid sails are being built at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding and will be delivered in late 2025. Each will feature three sails. These vessels were the next in line to adopt BAR Tech’s solution, following the installation of the sails on the Pyxis Ocean and Berge Olympus vessels in the second half of 2023. This kind of propulsion technology has environmental benefits as well as economic incentives due to reduced fuel costs. At the same time as deploying this new technology on its ships, Union Maritime is also working with BAR Technologies’ shareholders on a significant strategic equity investment into the company. The investment process is currently in its final stages. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsUnited Kingdom