Wingsail Retrofit for UK Cargo Ship

The £3.7m ($4.7m) project to retrofit an innovative AirWing device on one of the fleet’s UK-registered, 11,000dwt geared multi-purpose cargo carriers is to be funded by a grant from the Department for Transport (DfT). The award has been made under a government initiative aimed at promoting ‘greener’ shipping with UK-designed and -made products.

The 20m-high wingsail will be installed forward on the 124m vessel, and incorporates patent-pending airflow manipulation, maximising thrust output while featuring a compact and lightweight structure. The ultimate goal is reduced overall fuel usage, costs and related emissions impact on a set route across the North Atlantic between Canada and northwest Europe.

AirWing technology is particularly well suited to general cargo vessels and other ships with limited deck space availability, and the design concept is claimed to offer potential fuel savings in the 5-30% range depending on the precise application and configuration. In the case of the impending prototype installation, fuel consumption and carbon emissions are expected to be reduced by at least 8%.

AirWing can rotate 360 degrees and automatically adjusts in terms of angle of attack, camber and flow control so as to provide the optimum configuration for a high thrust coefficient in changing conditions.

Adding academic prowess to the collaboration, the University of Bristol is contributing know-how in composite structure testing and modelling. Its involvement reflects the importance of cross-disciplinary research in fluid dynamics, structures and ship science to fully harness the benefits offered by wind propulsion.

All design and construction of the AirWing unit for fitting this year to the Carisbrooke vessel will be carried out in the UK. The 20m solution is said to be most suitable for ships of some 100m to 180m in length. Birkenhead-domiciled GT Green has been working with Bureau Veritas to secure approval in principle (AiP) for the technology, and also has a larger, 40m-high AirWing under development.

Carisbrooke is involved in a raft of technological developments and study partnerships directed at enhancing the economic and environmental performance of its fleet, drawing on operational experience in many trades and trading areas throughout Europe and the Atlantic basin, and on oversight of the technical management of 27 dry cargo ships in the 5,000-17,000dwt band.

Based in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, and with a companion office in Rotterdam, current investment by the company features two 7,300dwt diesel-electric, multipurpose cargo vessels on order in the Netherlands. Due in 2026 from Thecla Bodewes, the 119m newbuilds will be of the Labrax type, featuring an advanced power management system and modular electric propulsion setup.

The funding award for the AirWing collaboration was made under the DfT’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 4, part of the £206m ($260m) UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme. UK SHORE is delivering a suite of interventions throughout 2022-2025 aimed at accelerating the design, manufacture and operation of UK-made clean technologies, and fostering an industry-led transition to net zero carbon.