An experimental wind-powered cargo ship, Pacific Grebe, has arrived in Southampton for sea trials after being retrofitted with a 20-meter wing-sail.
Developed by Smart Green Shipping, the FastRig retractable sail aims to reduce the environmental impact of large vessels. The trials will provide real-world data to validate the anticipated fuel savings from wind-assisted propulsion. Smart Green Shipping is involved in one of 19 projects selected to receive funding from the UK Government’s £60 million initiative to supercharge the development of clean maritime solutions.
This 5,000-tonne vessel, which is designed for transporting nuclear material, is being tested by scientists from the University of Southampton to assess its performance in various sea conditions. The goal is to evaluate the potential fuel savings from the sail, with predictions suggesting a reduction in fuel consumption by up to 30%.
This initiative is part of a broader project named Winds of Change, funded through the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, which seeks to explore clean maritime technologies over a two-year period.
We are proud to be working with Smart Green Shipping on this pioneering project as we continue our commitment to reducing our environmental impact, while continuing to deliver the highest standards of safety and security in the transport of nuclear materials.
… said Seth Kybird, NTS CEO
Meanwhile, Pete Buchan, NTS’s Managing Director of Shipping added: “While this is still a trial at this stage, it’s the first real-world application of this wing and could change the way all ships sail, drastically reducing emissions and fuel usage across the industry.
NTS is allowing SGS to undertake formal sea trials which gives us accurate, independently verified performance data against which we can corroborate the digital models and tank testing results the University of Southampton have been developing.
… said Diane Gilpin, CEO of Smart Green Shipping.
