Windassist

Sailcargo, sailtraining and wind-assisted ship propulsion

Windassist

Sailcargo, sailtraining and wind-assisted ship propulsion

Sail cargo SeaWASP

Reliable wind data crucial for WASP

A new survey conducted by Vaisala in collaboration with the International Windship Association (IWSA) has gathered insights into the evolving challenges and opportunities in optimising WASP systems.

Three quarters of the survey participants represent suppliers of WASP systems, including technologies such as wings, soft sails, rotors, rigid sails and suction sails. The remaining respondents are from shipping companies operating vessels such as roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels, bulk carriers and tankers. The survey revealed key insights into the industry’s challenges and needs, including:

  • Demand for accurate and undisturbed wind data
  • Operational efficiency improvements through remote wind monitoring
  • Wind nowcasting to optimise WASP system performance

Local wind measurements are a growing priority

75% of respondents rated local wind measurements as “very important” for optimising WASP performance, a significant increase from 2022, when only 20% rated local wind measurements as very important. Ultrasonic anemometers remain the most important tool for capturing this data, offering reliability and precision.
Wind measurements are essential for real-time adjustments, which improve efficiency and effectiveness. More than 87% of respondents confirmed that local wind data helps optimise their WASP systems, while half mentioned its role in improving safety by ensuring that systems are only active during optimal wind conditions.

Source: Safety4Sea.
Image: BAR-technologies.

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