IWSA surveys wind energy use small ships

In recent years, the number of small vessels sailing with wind as their primary energy source or with wind support has steadily increased. More vessels have also been launched in recent months.

The ability to reduce fossil fuel use on smaller vessels in domestic and international shipping makes wind power an attractive, viable option for owners, supported by the availability of multiple mature technologies.
To understand why the use of wind power is increasing in these small market segments, and to identify the barriers to further expansion, the International Windship Association (IWSA) has launched a new survey to gain insight into the industry.

The aim of IWSA’s survey is to help ports/port authorities better understand the industry. In addition, seafarers interested in the industry will also be better informed, as will the ship operators who hire and train them.
Feedback from respondents from small ship owners using wind energy, plus insights from other relevant stakeholders, will be published by the IWSA in a Small Wind Propulsion Vessel publication.

Gavin Allwright, secretary general of IWSA says: “The results of this survey will assist IWSA in its future work around the application of wind propulsion in the small commercial vessel sector, both in developed and less developed regions of the world where sea transport may be critical. The aim of the resulting Small Wind Propulsion Vessel publication is to facilitate discussions and debates on the issues facing the sector, to further bring the network together and identify areas requiring collective action at industry, market and policy/regulatory levels.”

Stakeholders in all segments of the small vessel sector are invited to participate in the survey. In the survey, a “small vessel” has a fairly broad definition, including vessels below 1000 GT, although that classification is one of the questions to be answered.

View the IWSA survey here.

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