Norsepower and Idemitsu Tanker Co., Ltd. have partnered to equip two new Very Large Crude Carriers with Norsepower Rotor Sails, making them the first VLCCs to use large-scale mechanical sail power for emissions reduction. Built by Japan Marine United Corporation and Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd., each vessel will carry two 35×5-meter explosion-proof rotor sails when the first ship is delivered in late 2028, applying the Magnus Effect to convert wind into auxiliary thrust. The newbuilds are also being outfitted with additional energy-saving technologies and are prepared for future low-carbon fuels such as methanol, aligning with Idemitsu’s broader carbon-neutral ambitions. For Norsepower, the deal expands its already significant tanker footprint to 22 rotor sail units and marks its first newbuild project in Japan, now its largest market. The project demonstrates both technical and commercial confidence in wind-assisted propulsion as a practical decarbonization pathway for long-haul crude transport without sacrificing reliability or capacity.