New: heavy transport vessel with mechanical Econowind sails

24 September 2024

Last week, the installation of two Econowind mechanical sails was completed on Jumbo’s heavy lift vessel Jumbo Jubilee. This is the first time Ventofoils have been installed on a heavy lift vessel.

By using less fuel, Jumbo aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The new eco-control system optimises fuel consumption by minimising consumption at a certain speed, while the sails generate additional thrust, reducing the load on the main engines and further reducing fuel consumption. Together with new anti-fouling measures on the propellers, continuous monitoring of the hull’s anti-fouling layers and the eco-control upgrade of the propulsion system, Jumbo aims to make the vessel more efficient.

Decarbonisation

“At Jumbo, we believe that every step towards sustainability is crucial,” says Daan Koornneef, CEO of Jumbo. “The installation of these mechanical sails is a testament to our commitment to decarbonisation and innovation. While there is always more work to be done, initiatives like this bring us closer to a greener maritime industry. We are proud of our team’s ongoing efforts to make Jumbo a leader in sustainable shipping.”

Test unit

When asked, Econowind reports that the heavy lift market is a new sector for its VentoFoils and that the units in question are leased by Jumbo. The units are rather small for the Jumbo Jubilee, and are being used as test units.
“This is a unit that we have lying around and that we rent out more often for pilot projects. I think with these units, the result for this ship is just measurable. Depending on the wind, it will make the ship sail slightly faster. So for Jumbo, the savings effect is marginal for now, but it’s nice that they want to try it, and maybe this will lead to more,” says managing director Frank Nieuwenhuis.

Four times more thrust

Econowind does want to start meeting the demand for larger units. “We are now building units 30 metres high. Those have a thrust four times as big, and with that you can really make quite a difference on a ship like this,” says Nieuwenhuis.
VentoFoils harness wind power in a revolutionary way that sets them apart from conventional rigid wind sails. You can best describe Econowind’s invention as a vertical aircraft wing that converts wind into forward thrust of the vessel. Internal fans amplify the effect, making a significant difference in fuel consumption.

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