Wind sail project secures government funding

The funds from the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition will be used by Smart Green Shipping’s ‘Winds of Change’ project to develop FastRig, a 20 metre, retractable rigid wing sail for use on board commercial vessels.

“I’m thrilled that the UK is demonstrating ongoing faith in our FastRig technology, which holds the key to rapidly reducing emissions from shipping,” said SGS chief executive, Diane Gilpin. “ Wind power, harnessed using sophisticated digital software and well-engineered equipment, is at present the fastest way for the sector to reduce fuel consumption and related emissions.”

Department for Transport analysis calculates that more than 40,000 vessels – particularly bulkers and tankers – are currently suitable for installations of wind technologies such as FastRig. Fuel and greenhouse gas emissions savings verified during a feasibility study suggested a minimum of 20% reduction per year in emissions through the use of the FastRig technology and TradeWind smart analysis tool.

Funded by the Department for Transport and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, CMDC3 is allocating £60m to 19 flagship projects to deliver real world demonstrations of clean maritime solutions.

The Winds of Change project is being delivered with the University of Southampton, and project partners include Humphreys Yacht Design, Houlder, Malin Group, Caley Ocean Systems, Argo Engineering, Lloyd’s Register, MOL DryBulk and Drax.