Mitsui O.S.K. Lines held the naming ceremony for the large LNG carrier FUJIN SAILOR, under construction at the Geoje shipyard, on 10 September. The vessel is equipped with 2 Wind Challenger rigid wing-sail wind propulsion systems on the port and starboard sides of the bow, each reaching approximately 50 m in height. Completion is scheduled for the end of September.
The naming ceremony for FUJIN SAILOR, an LNG carrier being built by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines at a shipyard in Geoje, South Korea, was held on 10 September 2026. The vessel is the first in the world to be equipped with the Wind Challenger wind propulsion system, with the aim reportedly being to promote its adoption on LNG carriers.
The vessel's design allows the sails to reach nearly 50 m when deployed. An automatic control system deploys and retracts the sails according to wind conditions. The sails are made from lightweight FRP, a design feature intended to maximise wind propulsion while limiting the impact on the vessel's cargo capacity.
FUJIN SAILOR has a cargo hold capacity of 174,000 cubic meters, a length of approximately 286 m and a breadth of approximately 46 m. Vessel management will be handled by MOL Global Ship Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines. After completion, the vessel is scheduled to transport LNG under a long-term contract with major US oil company Chevron.
Wind assistance from the Wind Challenger is said to have the potential to reduce conventional fuel consumption and contribute to reducing the environmental impact of maritime transport.