Preparing the First Wing Sail Installation on Tirranna

The RoRo vessel Tirranna from Wallenius Wilhelmsen is one step further to getting the first Oceanbird wing sail: the deck mount has been fitted.

The eleven partners in the EU-funded Orcelle Horizon project are taking a 360-degree perspective on wind as main propulsion. This project is a continuation of several previous projects and combines improvements to simulation frameworks and wing systems by supporting the development of two physical demonstrator vessels. Both RoRo vessels are owned by Wallenius Wilhelmsen, and are set to transport cars and other cargo, with significant emission reductions, across the world.

Setting sails

First up is a one-wing retrofit on the vessel Tirranna. She is scheduled to be in operation in 2025, and experiences with it will be used for further research and development. Tirranna is followed by the newbuild multi-wing vessel, Orcelle Wind. Set to sail in 2028, this groundbreaking vessel targets efficiency gains of 50 percent compared to conventional vessels operating in regular trading.

Adaptations for a One-Wing Retrofit

In a significant milestone towards new wind propulsion, our first demonstrator vessel, Tirranna, is docked at IMC Shipyard in Zhoushan, China. She is currently undergoing critical retrofitting to prepare for the first wing installation.

The retrofitting process on Tirranna is proceeding as planned, with an estimated completion date by the end of June. Prior to docking, extensive work has been done, including planning with the yard, preparing all design documentation (e.g., strength and fatigue analysis) by subcontractor Delta Marin, and obtaining class approval from DNV. This work has been crucial to ensuring an optimized solution related to steel weight and cargo loss and also gives valuable insight through the continuation of the Orcelle Wind.

The ongoing phase of the project is crucial as it prepares Tirranna for the upcoming installation of the Wind Propulsion Unit (WPU) scheduled to take place in Europe during the first quarter of 2025.

The Tirranna Testbed

As the first vessel to undergo this bespoke retrofitting, Tirranna serves as a testbed for groundbreaking technology. With a length of 230 meters and a capacity of approximately 8000 cars, she is the perfect vessel to prepare the RoRo segment. The insights gained from this installation will be instrumental in refining the design and performance of the WPU, paving the way for its implementation on the second demonstrator vessel, Orcelle Wind.

Unlike Tirranna, Orcelle Wind will be a new build optimized for wind as the main propulsion, representing the next generation of sustainable shipping.

Source: orcelle.eu

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