The 3,600dwt general cargo vessel MV Ankie has made its first voyage with two eConowind Ventifoil wings installed, sailing the North Sea from Delfzijl in the Netherlands to Hamburg and Norway and then back to Rotterdam.
Specifically, the modular Ventifoil wings have the form of wings with vents and an internal fan that use boundary layer suction for maximum effect.
It is stated that the eConowind system was installed on the Jan van Dam Shipping vessel in January 2020 at the Royal Niestern Sander shipyard. The installation on MV Ankie features two, 10-metre wings that will produce force enabling the vessel reduce motor power and save energy. The second step will see the units being extended by a further six metres.
For eConowind BV, located in Groningen, the Netherlands, it is the first commercial installation of their Ventifoil system. The wind-assist system was developed over the past three years supported by an EU backed grant and this first voyage marks a significant milestone for the company in bringing their technology to a shipping market eager to deploy credible decarbonization solutions.
RINA participated in the project and was responsible for the design approval, foil production and construction supervision together with the commissioning protocol preparation.
The vessel sailed for Wagenborg, a logistics provider. The company commented that
We take active part in the shipping industry’s de-carbonizing energy transition. Together with our stakeholders, such as our affiliated captain owners, clients, investors, employees and suppliers, we accept sustainability challenges to reduce our environmental footprint.
Concluding, Jan van Dam Shipping aims to incorporate the system into a newbuild vessel as it aims to reduce its CO2 emissions.
