John Hartley, our roving Fremantle Port sleuth, last evening, under a crescent Moon cradling Venus, found himself face to face with the state-of-the-art MV Baltazar as she entered Fremantle Harbour and wondering just what she was. As you’ll see, she has an unusual feature – or two!
She was just in from Etajima, Japan (near Port Hiroshima) and is soon off to Geraldton.
As John surmised, after taking his fab photos of her arrival and then consulting Prof Google, she is very likely on her Maiden Voyage having only just been completed and delivered in August 2026 by Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in China for her Norwegian owners, Klaveness Combination Carriers ASA.
John also discovered her cargo is likely to be caustic soda.
But the most fascinating thing about Baltazar is these two towering white cylinders near the bow of the vessel. Just what are they?
Our further inquiries inform us that they are bound4blue eSAILs, part of a new generation of wind‑assist technology transforming global shipping.
Klaveness, her owner, is an Oslo‑based company, and Baltazar is one of the world’s first CLEANBU combination carriers – vessels designed to carry both dry bulk and liquid cargo. Her arrival in Fremantle marks a milestone in Norway’s maritime push toward cleaner, more efficient ocean transport.
How do the e-sails work? Well, it seems twin rotors use what is called the Magnus effect – the same principle that makes a spinning ball curve through the air — to generate thrust from wind. By harnessing natural airflow, Baltazar can reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 15 percent, depending on conditions. It’s a quiet revolution in marine engineering, blending traditional seamanship with renewable innovation.
Klaveness has been steadily retrofitting its fleet with wind‑assist systems, and Baltazar joins sister ships Baru, Ballard, and Balzoni – note the Bs!- in demonstrating that sustainability and commercial performance can sail together. Her Fremantle call is part of a global route linking Europe, Asia, and Australia, where we gather she’s testing the sails under varied wind regimes.
For Western Australia, Baltazar’s visit underscores the Fremantle’s growing role in the green maritime transition — hosting vessels that not only move cargo but also model the next era of ocean transport. As the sun sets over Gage Roads, those white rotors gleam like futuristic lighthouses, signalling a cleaner course ahead for world shipping.
So much to be learned from shipping activities, hey!
Baltazar is currently berthed alongside the Fremantle Passenger Terminal at Victoria Quay, and as this photograph taken by our Editor this morning shows, her sails dominate the Pprt scene!
*Words by Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News. Photographs by John Hartley (except where indicated otherwise)
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