A sail on a shoebox

The Wing560 wind propulsion system, developed by Oceanbird, has been installed on Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s car carrier Tirranna. The enormous, rigid sail is expected to significantly reduce the fuel consumption of this ‘sailing shoebox’.

The Tirranna is now preparing to begin testing and sea trials. The Wing560, which stands 46 metres tall, is a wind-assisted propulsion unit designed to support the ship’s propulsion and reduce fuel consumption. Its performance will be evaluated during forthcoming sea trials.

The primary aim of this retrofit is to test and evaluate a full-scale WPU (Wind Power Unit) at sea on a real ship, providing crucial data for the design and optimisation of future wing sails and vessels such as the Orcelle Wind.
As the first ship to undergo this bespoke retrofit, the Tirranna serves as a unique test platform for this potentially groundbreaking technology. Measuring 230 metres in length and with a capacity of around 8,000 cars, the Tirranna is the perfect vessel for testing the concept within the RoRo segment. The insights gained from this installation will be crucial for refining the design and performance of the WPU, and may pave the way for the construction of the Orcelle Wind – a new vessel optimised for wind as its primary propulsion source.

This achievement is a testament to what can be achieved through teamwork, technical excellence and careful planning
… according to the company.

Oceanbird and the project participants stated that the installation required detailed planning, technical work and execution on board the vessel. The Tiranna was modified during a five-yearly dry-dock. First, reinforcements were fitted for the installation’s foundation, which was then placed on deck. Extensive structural modifications had to be carried out to ensure the vessel had the necessary strength to support the WPU. The shipyard then carried out the cabling work required to connect the WPU to the ship. Finally, a heel test was conducted to compile all the necessary stability documentation.

Training

Wallenius Marine, RISE, Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Oceanbird jointly set up a training programme to ensure the crew were fully prepared to operate the new technology.

According to the International Windship Association (IWSA), wind propulsion in commercial shipping continues to expand, with more than 100 large cargo ships now equipped to utilise wind energy.

Given the enormous uncertainty surrounding fuel prices, wind propulsion is becoming increasingly important for the sector. Being able to accurately predict the fuel savings from wind propulsion increases operational certainty
… Diane Gilpin, founder and CEO of Smart Green Shipping (SGS), explained this in an exclusive interview with SAFETY4SEA.

Sources: Shipandbunker, Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Safety4sea.
Image: Wallenius Wilhelmsen.

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