HHI Introduces ‘New Sail Concept’ Propulsion System for Eco-Friendly Ships

Hyundai Heavy Industries holds a ceremony to receive the design approval of its own auxiliary propulsion motor sail system model, dubbed “Hi-Rotor” from Korean Register (KR) at HHI headquarters in Ulsan on Aug. 26. (Photos: HHI)

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) is accelerating efforts to develop new technologies related to eco-friendly ships to brace for the launch of an era of carbon neutrality.

HHI became the Korean shipbuilder to obtain the design approval of its own auxiliary propulsion motor sail system model, dubbed “Hi-Rotor” from Korean Register (KR) at HHI headquarters in Ulsan on Aug. 26.

A rotor sail is a rotating, cylindrical structure, designed to create additional propulsion using wind, thereby reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Hi-Rotor is an auxiliary wind-based propulsion system, employing the Magnus effect: wind pushing against a rotating circular structure creates motion perpendicular to the flow of the wind.

A ship outfitted with such a rotor sail may not only reduce energy consumption 6 percent to 8 percent, but also cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, so the rotor sail has emerged as an alternative to cope with global stringent environment restrictions.

The Hi-Rotor, developed by HHI on its own, obtained the certificate “Approval In Principle” from KR in December 2020.

The latest design approval certification is expected to raise credibility of the technology.

The Hi-Rotor has seen its stability improve by employing a reduction gear method instead of the conventional belt-type one.

A bird’s eye-view of a ship outfitted with Hi-Rotor.

HHI is to verify the Hi-Rotor overland in the next half of the year. With the design approval certificate, HHI plans to win orders.

Joo Won-ho, head of HHI’s Technology Division, said, “HHI will run ahead one step in the eco-friendly shipbuilding market by meeting customers’ diverse needs through developing of both ships powered by eco-friendly fuels such as LNG, ammonia and hydrogen and a variety of eco-friendly products, including auxiliary wind propulsion systems.”

Kim Yeon-tae, chief of KR’s technology division, said “The latest design approval is hoped to raise the technology competitiveness of the rotor sail, developed by HHI, and we’ll continue to provide support to help HHI ramp up technologies to cope with environment restrictions.”

Meanwhile, HHI Group is stepping on the gas to develop next-generation, eco-friendly technologies as the group obtained the certificate of “Approval In Principle” on an auxiliary wing sail wind propulsion system, developed by the group, from DNV in December 2020.

HHI Group Chmn. Kwon Presides Over Meeting of Subsidiary CEOs

HHI Group had a meeting of CEOs of the group’s major subsidiaries on July 20, and pondered how to find solutions in the ever-worsening global business environment.

HHI Group Kwon Oh-gap presided over a meeting of CEOs of the group’s major subsidiaries, including Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE).

The latest CEOs’ meeting took place in three months since last April when the group issued a warning against a management crisis and called for each subsidiary to work out countermeasures.

Among on hand at the latest meeting were HD Hyundai Chairman Kwon Oh-gap, President Chung Ki-sun, KSOE Vice Chairman Ga Sam-hyun, HHI Vice Chairman Han Young-suk and HHI President Lee Sang-gyun.