Hanwha Ocean announced the installation of the two hard sails in a social media post on Monday.
Developed by MOL, the system received approval in principle (AIP) through structural and outfitting design by Hanwha Ocean.
Hanwa Ocean said that the fuel savings for LNG carriers with two sails are expected to be up to 12 percent per voyage, depending on weather and sea conditions.
The shipbuilder did not provide further details.
In September 2024, MOL and a unit of Chevron joined forces on what they say is the world’s first LNG carrier equipped with wind-assisted ship propulsion systems.
MOL said the 174,000-cbm carrier is under long-term charter from its unit MOL Encean to Chevron Asia Pacific Shipping, with a scheduled delivery in 2026.
The two sails, made of fiber-reinforced plastic, will be up to 49 meters high and about 15 meters wide, according to MOL.
In addition to the robust design of Wind Challenger itself, additional safety measures include a fully enclosed navigation bridge and a lookout station on the vessel’s foredeck to further enhance visibility, MOL said.
MOL’s large fleet of LNG tankers had 103 vessels as of the end of March this year.
The company expects its LNG carrier fleet to reach 111 vessels by March 2027.
As of March 31, 2026, MOL’s fleet also included eight FSUs/FSRUs, three LNG bunkering vessels, one LNG powership, and six ethane carriers.
