WHISPER project: conceptual designs for optimized wind propulsion

Whisper is a project aimed at reducing emissions from the maritime sector.

The project is being carried out by a consortium of thirteen European partners representing various stakeholders from the maritime industry. Within this project, retrofit concepts are being developed for optimized wind propulsion systems, which are expected to achieve fuel savings of around 30 %

The press release states:

This paper presents the latest merchant ship concepts developed by the WHISPER Project Consortium under the Horizon Europe framework. The project is managed by Verkis and technically led by Stirling Design International (SDI), a naval architecture firm. It showcases innovative Panamax bulk carrier and container feeder designs, achieving up to 30% fuel consumption reduction through the integration of cutting-edge technologies, including OceanWings wingsails, Solbian solar panels, and Sidewind turbines.

The paper provides a detailed analysis of the performance prediction, operational challenges, and associated risks. Mitigation strategies employed within the WHISPER Project will also be discussed. One key innovation is the integration of six tiltable OceanWings wingsails, each 363 m2, into a Panamax bulk carrier, based on insights from Ant Topic and Marfin Management ship owners.

Additionally, the paper presents the integration of two OceanWings wingsails with elevator platform on a container feeder with an innovative hull design, highlighting results on ship commercial capacity and performance as informed by Samskip and Nav-Tech ship owners. Both designs developed by SDI are practical examples of how renewable wind and solar energy technologies can be effectively incorporated into the shipbuilding and ship repair sectors, offering substantial potential for sustainable maritime operations.

In the recent publication in the Journal of Sailing Technology, the project team presents the latest concept designs. These are based on a Panamax bulk carrier and a 1000 TEU container feeder. The intended fuel reduction will be achieved through a combination of Oceanwings wing sails, solar panels, and a Savonius wind turbine. Topics of research included: the expected savings, the impact of the wings on both port and sea operations, and which configuration would be most effective.

A relatively conventional design was chosen for the bulk carrier, which, apart from the installation of the systems, changes little in terms of silhouette. The wings can be folded down when conditions require a clear deck, for example during loading/unloading operations or for visibility, which is also used in suction wings, among other things. The container feeder has a more striking design with the bridge at the front and extra attention to aerodynamics and sight lines. A striking feature here is that the wings are vertically retractable. This is an unusual application: such concepts have been proposed before but have never been realized. However, the operational advantages make it interesting.

The performance of the concepts has been theoretically evaluated based on, among other things, global wind conditions, supplemented with route data provided by partners in the consortium. The predictions show significant savings, with the largest coming from the sails. Although this is still purely theoretical, the project team indicates that real-world trials are the next step in verifying these results.

The use of concept studies within project consortia is not unusual. In Germany, for example, the Rasant and Flettnerfleet projects are also being carried out through collaborations between various maritime partners. Although several research institutes are also involved, the approach is similar. Such studies contribute to the further independent development of wind propulsion and ship design optimization, so that these are not only as sustainable as possible, but also economically viable.

Source: Whisper Project

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