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With shipping now accounting for over 3% of global CO2 emissions, and still increasing, the innovative all-ship solution is set to revitalise an industry under pressure to reform. Windship Technology, a British company with a whole-ship solution to tackle the CO2 emissions of the shipping industry, today unveils its designs and announces an investment partnership with one of the world’s leading classification agencies. Starting from a clean drawing board, Technical Director Simon Rogers and his design team developed and tested at the renowned Wolfson Unit in Southampton the company’s patented high performance, highly efficient triple-wing rig. The technical team further developed a new diesel electric ship drive system that eliminates CO2, NOX, SOX and particulate matter to True Zero whilst also incorporating large solar arrays, carbon capture, optimised hull shapes and specialised weather routing software into the overall design package. The eye-catching triple-wing rigs produce a driving force several multiples greater than single masted solutions of the same height currently being promoted in the industry. The 48m Windship Technology rig is stowable on deck through a unique, innovative stowage solution to aid port navigation and cargo handling. Its composite structure is borne out of technology and design from the wind turbine industry, ensuring reliability and longevity of greater than 25 years. Professor Philip Wilson, formerly Professor of Ship Dynamics at the Ship Science Department at the University of Southampton is convinced by Windship Technology’s solution saying: “The holistic approach demonstrated in this solution whereby wind power, solar power and the reduction of harmful exhaust emissions to effectively zero, are all brought together, means that at last there is a design solution that the International Maritime Organisation can champion to achieve its requirements for ‘at least’ zero carbon shipping.” Now the company announces a significant partnership investment with the international registrar and classification society DNV who will be conducting both an outside-in and inside-out verification to fully assess Windship Technology’s whole-ship design with a view to classifying emission reductions, safety and operability. Per Marius Berrefjord (Senior Vice President) of DNV commented: “We are delighted to be working with such experienced professionals at Windship Technology in a project which aims to help transform the entire shipping industry to True Zero. We will work closely with the project team in a fully transparent manner as we now initiate the work to establish a simulation model that will help us verify the GHG emission reduction capability of the technology. We are also preparing for a HAZID that shall verify the safety and operability of ships with Windship Technology installed. These activities will be followed by further verification activities as the project moves forward. Windship is supplying information in a fully transparent manner, and DNV will ensure a thorough verification process. We are looking forward to dive deeper into the very interesting technology presented by Windship.” Against a backdrop of new build ship orders down over 50% in 2020, and regulators such as the International Maritime Organisation backed by the United Nations demanding environmental and sustainable reform from the industry, Windship Technology is offering a ‘Tesla of the Seas’ solution for shipping. The Windship Technology True Zero Emission solution is presently the only viable and most economical zero emission project for ocean-going bulk carrier and oil tanker ships. As an investment case, the solution appeals to asset owners looking to secure their investments over the lifespan of a ship’s working life and is attracting significant investor interest in the financial markets. Windship Technology is now looking to cement commercial partnerships with major ship owners, operators and investors with the vision to transform the shipping industry and address the growing emissions issue that can no longer be ignored. Speaking about the new cooperation with DNV, Lars Carlsson, Director of Windship Technology commented: “Working with DNV is a major step towards proving true zero emission status. The industry cannot sit back any longer. The clock is ticking and regulation will force a new approach for an industry that is traditionally hesitant to change. Shipping is not fit for purpose in the future. Shipping and oil companies are the only major industries still increasing their emissions and must change and think differently if it is to have any hope of reaching the emissions targets set out in law.”

UK-based Cape Horn Engineering has reported a two-digit percentage improvement in the aerodynamic performance of a vessel’s solid wing assembly via the use of Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) programme. The use of Wind Propulsion Technology (WPT) such as rigid wings, sails, kites, Magnus rotors on some vessels like bulk carriers and tankers have the potential of fuel savings and emission reductions around 10-30%.

Cape Horn Engineering said it is supporting one of its clients, Windship Technology, on a solid wing power concept that is being developed by a consortium of key players in the global shipping industry.

“We are extremely proud to be part of the team led by Windship Technology for this exciting project, running a CFD programme to further improve the design of the solid wings,” said Rodrigo Azcueta, managing director of Cape Horn Engineering.

“One of the key focuses of our project is to provide a clearer, unbiased and more detailed analysis of the new technologies available. The analytical evidence provided will give businesses a clearer understanding of the potential savings that can be realised with the implementation of the green propulsion systems. Without significant mitigating action it is projected that the global shipping industry could account for almost a fifth of carbon emissions by 2050,” Azcueta said.

Read the full Seatrade Maritime News article: here.

 

Further Windship Technology testing confirms at least 30% annual fuel and emissions saving for commercial shipping.

Key industry experts, prospective clients in the shipping, commodities and petrochemical sectors together with UK government officials attended the Mitchell – Wolfson Unit Wind Tunnel at the University of Southampton to view the testing of the most recent Windship Technology model in February 2020. The wind tunnel test findings further validated the results of the latest Windship Technology CFD testing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWH8FrVltAA

The patented UK designed Windship rig system is consistently regarded as the most powerful fuel and emission saving wind system in the market, which will materially help the shipping industry closer towards achieving its 50% reduction in emissions by 2050, as required by the IMO. That organisation has recently acknowledged wind propulsion as one of the solutions for the shipping industry to meet decarbonisation targets, as outlined in the MEPC_C75_Inf26.

The solution, known as the Windship Auxiliary Sail Propulsion System (WASPS), uses fixed wing sail technology, whereby three 35-metre high masts installed on the deck of a vessel will each have three aerodynamic wings fitted (pictured) to exploit the power of the wind. The system allows reductions in engine power to be made in order to achieve the same speed and so maximise fuel-saving and emissions reduction.

Without significant mitigating action it is projected that the global shipping industry could account for almost a fifth of carbon emissions by 2050. Windship’s solution will be able to save a minimum of 30% of the CO2 emissions annually.

The Windship system combined with reduced engine revolutions and other ship optimisation could save up to 80% of fuel and emissions. This aspirational approach will bring closer the possibility of a Carbon Neutral ship well in advance of 2050.

Simon Rogers, Technical Director said, “We are delighted with the results of the wind tunnel testing and they further illustrate how we will help the shipping industry to make a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. We are in discussions with potential development partners to build and install the prototype system.”

 

As featured in TradeWinds in July 2019, Tanker shipping veteran and long-term proponent of wind propulsion, Lars Carlsson, is proposing a campaign to shift shipowners toward net-zero emission status as the industry begins to get to grips with the IMO target for a 50% cut by 2050.

Carlsson, current director of Windship Technology, a former Managing Director of Concordia Maritime and Chairman of INTERTANKO, wants the industry to set up a World Shipping Board within the IMO to lead a push towards net-zero emissions.

The board, comprising up to 10 people, could "guide us through the coming years' transition, with strong recommendations and executive power, by forcing authorities to legislate for immediate reduction of harmful emissions," he argues in a letter to Trade Winds.
Carlsson, who is now a director at Windship Technology, suggests giving the board 100 votes at the IMO so it can propel legislation through the United Nations organisation for net zero emissions by 2040. Windship is a company developing wind sail rigs for bulkers and tankers aimed at cutting fuel use by 45%.
'Inexcusable delay'
"Kitack Lim, the secretary general of IMO, has a lot of integrity if he could just escape from half of his 200 country delegates' votes in IMO," Carlsson writes.

"Net zero emissions in shipping can be achieved by a determined investment in carbon-neutral vessels. But any target of action as late as 2050 is an inexcusable delay, postponing necessary climate action to the next generation so that we in our generation can enjoy our life and our perks undisturbed by harsh realities," he argues.

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Photo credit: Tradewinds