British company Windship Technology has revealed the design for its first ‘true zero’ emission ship that aims to tackle CO2 emissions from the shipping industry.
Technical director Simon Rogers and his design team developed and tested the company’s patented triple-wing rig at the Wolfson Unit in Southampton. The technical team further developed a new diesel electric ship drive system that reportedly eliminates CO2, NOX, SOX and particulate matter to ‘true zero’ whilst also incorporating large solar arrays, carbon capture, optimised hull design and specialised weather routing software into the overall design package.
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According to the company, the triple-wing rigs produce a driving force ‘several multiples greater’ than currently available single masted solutions of the same height. The 48m Windship Technology rig, developed using technology and design from the wind turbine industry, is stowable on deck.
The company has announced a partnership with the international registrar and classification society DNV, who will be conducting an outside-in and inside-out verification to fully assess the whole-ship design.
Per Marius Berrefjord, senior VP of DNV, said that they will work closely with the project team to verify the vessel’s emissions reduction capability. “We are also preparing for a HAZID [hazard identification] that shall verify the safety and operability of ships with Windship Technology installed,” he added.
Lars Carlsson, director of Windship Technology, described the cooperation as a ‘major step’ toward proving true zero emission status. He said: “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.”
So, we are moving back to the era of sails. Windmills are just glorified sails so far as the ship is concerned: a new era of sails next probably. Sir Charles Algernon Parsons will be turning in his grave as the steam turbine was invented to get round the problems of wind unpredictability (which has not changed)! The Eastern world will be laughing all the way to the bank if this sort of design madness is followed, as they will carry on using the highly developed diesel engine, possibly with better grades of oil.
This item has been all over the maritime press earlier today. Sail powered vessels (with or without a new diesel engine that miraculously avoids any emissions) are at the mercy of the weather so issues arise regarding scheduled services, departures, arrivals and the ability to berth the vessels. I doubt the design emblazoned on the announcement would be a credible option for loading containers quickly on/off.
Typical fossilised responses from the climate change deniers. Solar arrays and battery storage will give the ship the ability to navigate ports and berth without the use of diesel. Autonomous operation while at sea removes the need for crewing. The wind may not be reliable, but is always there. The ship will get there in the end, so for anything except time sensitive cargo, this is the future.
The triplane wing sail will have a lower lift to drag property than a biplane or monoplane wing sail arrangement. this will affect it’s windward performance.
The rig is mechanically trimmed and will not readily re trim for veering and gusting conditions, for a wing with limits of viable angle alpha , this could loose performance.