First results from Oceanwings and the Canopée
Two years after its launch, Canopée, reportedly the first industrial cargo ship to be equipped with four automated OceanWings, has demonstrated the potential of wind-assisted propulsion, according to operator Alizé.
The integration of the wind propulsion solution has not only improved fuel efficiency but also demonstrated the reliability and uptime of wind-assisted propulsion for merchant shipping, according to OceanWings, the French designer and manufacturer of wind propulsion systems.
On the occasion of the presentation of the Henri Kummerman award by the French Académie de Marine to ArianeGroup, Jifmar, Zéphyr & Borée, VPLP and OceanWings for the Canopée vessel, the companies decided to share their experiences after two years of sailing with this advanced hybrid freighter.
On average, each wing sail is already saving 1.3 tonnes of fuel per day under Canopée’s normal operating conditions, equivalent to about 300 kW equivalent engine power per wing sail, or a total of 5.2 tonnes of fuel (20.8 tonnes of CO2 equivalent) per day and 1,200 kW equivalent engine power for the four OceanWings.
The performance of the OceanWings on Canopée is expected to increase even further thanks to the continuous improvement of the software and AI platform. During one of its most recent transatlantic voyages, Canopée achieved an average savings of 2.2 tonnes per day per wing sail, equivalent to 510 kW of saved engine power per wing sail, or 2 MW of engine power for the entire ship.
Canopée also achieved a speed of 13.7 knots on sail power alone, demonstrating the clear potential of OceanWings technology for the propulsion of commercial vessels.
Averaged over the past two years on Canopée, OceanWings also showed an operational availability of 99.6%.
Alizés, the joint venture between Jifmar and Zéphyr & Borée that operates the vessel Canopée, is very satisfied with the performance and seaworthiness of OceanWings and the support of the OceanWings team. The company is convinced of the importance of wind propulsion as a key lever for decarbonising maritime transport. In addition to fuel savings, the companies highlight the ease of use and seamless integration of the OceanWings® system into daily operations. Canopée is seen as a pioneering success that paves the way for wider adoption of wind-assisted technologies across the fleet.
Sources: Alizé and Ocean Wings, Offshore Energy.
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