34 new WindWings for Union Maritime ships
BAR Technologies will equip 34 ships with WindWings for Union Maritime. This includes other ship components. An AeroBridge® superstructure should provide more efficiency and comfort for the crew.
Union Maritime is deploying pioneering wind technology on its fleet: it is working with BAR Technologies, the supplier of WindWings® – a leading rigid sail technology that uses wind propulsion to save an average of 1.5 tonnes of fuel and a tonne of CO2 per wing daily on typical global routes.
The WindWings technology will be installed on 14 LR2 tankers1, 12 chemical tankers and eight MR2 tankers. BAR claims that each sail will reduce carbon emissions by six tonnes on a typical trade route.
Interaction with bridge wings
The new ships will also feature an aerodynamically designed bridge and accommodation block, which are shaped like wings with a horizontal bridge on top of the structures.
BAR sales director Tom James said it was important for the performance of WindWings to take into account the interaction effect of the bridge wings and the ship.”
James said the newly designed bridge and hydrodynamically optimised hull will deliver up to 12% fuel savings.
But he was keen to stress that the overall performance of all the constituent parts of the system and how they interact will ultimately give an accurate picture of fuel consumption reduction.
Measuring is knowing
With this in mind, DNV developed a method to measure changes in ship performance when wind power is introduced.
The system is called the on/off test, which was first applied to the Cargill ship, the Pyxis Ocean.
In essence, the test involves measuring ground and water speed with shaft power and comparing it with the wings in operation and without wing power. The on/off test revealed a power reduction of 31.8% on the Pyxis Ocean, where the sails can be used with an increase in speed.
The wing sails themselves are made in China with a steel structure, with a surface of lightweight glass composite, similar to wind turbine blades. The wing weighs 200 tonnes and the pedestal on which it stands adds 40 tonnes.
1) LR2 = Long-range 2 type tankers, typically 115,000 dwt
2) MR = Mid-range 42,000 dwt to 59,999 dwt
Sources: BAR Technologies and Seatrade Maritime News.
Photo: Union Maritime.
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