The maritime transport industry has recently turned to one of its oldest methods, namely the use of sails, and wind power technology is gradually being utilized in oil tankers, container ships, and LNG carriers. In the past two months, significant developments in wind power for ships have been observed, including installations, orders, ship launches, and technology approvals.
Installation of Wind Power Technology on Ships
These developments are not limited to small demos, and major shipping companies, including Maersk, are preparing to install rotating sails on a container ship. Additionally, Odfjell has placed an order for wind power for its second oil tanker, and Wallenius Lines has added this technology to a dual-fuel LNG carrier. MOL has also launched an LNG ship powered by wind.
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Currently, 99 ships are equipped with wind power technology, including 25 cargo ships, 24 container ships, and 24 chemical tankers. Additionally, 11 ro-ro ships and 8 gas tankers have also been equipped with this technology. These numbers may seem small compared to the total size of the global commercial fleet, but the use of wind power in the industry is expanding.
Challenges and Benefits of Wind Power Technology
Wind power is recognized as one of the oldest technologies in maritime transport. Ships have used the power of wind to traverse oceans for centuries. Currently, wind power systems such as rotating sails, hard sails, and suction sails are installed on commercial ships carrying cargoes such as containers and LNG.
Ship owners are under pressure to improve energy efficiency and CII ratings, and many are also looking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Wind power is an old answer to this modern problem. However, installing sails does not mean converting conventional fuel ships into pollution-free vessels, as ships still require engines and fuel to maintain speed and scheduling.
Wind power technology is used alongside engines that operate on conventional fuels, LNG, methanol, biodiesel, and other fuels. For example, Wallenius has added this technology to an LNG carrier, and Veer.Voyage has designed a container ship with hydrogen sails.
In an industry where uncertainty about low-cost and pollution-free fuels can complicate investment decisions, this flexibility has a clear appeal. Additionally, in September, Lloyd’s Register evaluated SunRui technology, and ClassNK granted principle approval to the OceanWings hard sail systems.
These innovations represent initial steps in the use of wind power technology, but as the industry seeks to determine future fuels, one of the oldest engineering principles may help ships use less of whatever fuel ultimately prevails.
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