Following the signing of a Cooperation Agreement (COA) in Shanghai at the beginning of the year, Norsepower and COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Equipment (CHIC) have been steadily implementing the strategic cooperation framework, advancing their operational agreement, and continuously expanding the depth of their collaboration. Earlier this month, the two companies signed a new R&D cooperation agreement, formally establishing a dedicated partnership, which further strengthens their collaborative innovation in wind propulsion.
June 29, 2026, Yancheng, China: The agreement was signed by Heikki Pöntynen, CEO of Norsepower, and Mr. Roger Liu, Vice General Manager of CHIC, in the presence of representatives from both companies. Building on the existing cooperation agreement covering production, sales, installation and service operations of Norsepower Rotor Sails™, the companies have now signed a further dedicated R&D cooperation agreement focused on the further development and optimisation of Norsepower Rotor Sail™ key components.
The agreement reflects the shared commitment of both companies to continuously improve wind propulsion solutions and accelerate their deployment across the global shipping industry. The joint development work will focus on enhancing design, manufacturability, installation efficiency and operational performance, providing strong support for the R&D and project implementation of the next generation of Norsepower Rotor Sails™. This collaboration fully embodies the shared vision of both companies to continuously advance innovation in wind propulsion technology and accelerate its large-scale adoption across the global shipping industry.
“The market for wind propulsion continues to grow rapidly, and innovation remains essential to ensuring we deliver the highest levels of performance, reliability and value to our customers,” said Heikki Pöntynen, CEO of Norsepower. “We are pleased to deepen our cooperation with CHIC in the field of R&D and continue developing technologies that support the large-scale adoption of wind propulsion.“
The companies, which signed the first MoU last year, already announced further steps to deepen their cooperation earlier this year. This latest agreement further strengthens the long-term partnership between Norsepower and CHIC, combining Norsepower’s industry-leading wind propulsion expertise with CHIC’s extensive engineering, manufacturing and industrial capabilities.
As regulatory and commercial drivers continue to accelerate maritime decarbonisation, both companies remain committed to advancing practical, scalable solutions that help shipowners reduce fuel consumption, lower emissions and improve operational efficiency, contributing to the green and low-carbon transformation of the global shipping industry.