The Panama Ship Registry, in line with the objectives of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), incorporated the innovative ship “Green Winds” into its fleet. Green Winds, which is operated by MOL Drybulk Ltd. and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) is equipped with hard sail wind power propulsion system called Wind Challenger that developed by the Japanese company MOL and Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
With the Wind Challenger, the ship is expected to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by about 7% – 16%, depending on the ship route and other conditions. The ship is a benchmark for the decarbonization of the maritime sector. Certified by the classification society ClassNK, the hard sail wind propulsion system of Green Winds meets the highest standards of safety.
The safety of the wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS) installed on board the ship was confirmed by ClassNK through its classification process. This criterion is based on a review of blueprints and an inspection that concludes that the ship complies with the requirements established in the Guidelines for Wind Assisted Propulsion System for Ships, a set of standards for ensuring the safety of ships equipped with the WAPS and that was published by the classification society in April 2023.
The head of the merchant marine technical office in Tokyo (Segumar), Samuel Guevara visited the construction company. Oshima Shipbuilding to take a tour of the ship and learn about its cutting edge technology.
As an active member of the IMO, Panama promotes the adoption of clean technologies in its merchant fleet and supports its clients in the renewal of their vessels to meet the organization’s ambitious objectives for 2050.
The Panama Ship Registry, the largest in the world, provides technical support to clients and facilitates access to the latest innovations in energy efficiency and emissions reduction. According to the parameters established by the International Maritime Organization in relation to the Carbon Intensity Indicator, for the 2023 calendar year, this applied to 5,568 vessels, 41% of which fall within categories A and B, corresponding to the highest energy efficiency ratings.
“This achievement reflects the commitment of the Panamanian merchant marine to the protection of the environment and the adoption of responsible maritime practices,” said Ramón Franco, lawyer and director of the merchant marine of Panama.
Franco added that the commitment to innovation and sustainability ensures that clients are always at the forefront of the industry, prepared to face the future.
In 1917, the creation of the Panama Ship Registry laid the foundations for the nationalization of the tonnage of ships, beginning a journey of more than a century promoting maritime trade.
Panama currently has the largest ship registry in the world, with a fleet of more than 8,000 vessels that represents a total of 248 million GRT, according to HIS Markit. This translates into 15% of the world fleet, as reported in the latest World Fleet Monitor by Clarksons Research.
