A newcastlemax bulk carrier belonging to Singapore-based Berge Bulk will be fitted with four WindWings sails in the second quarter of 2023.
The WindWings technology is offered by BAR Technologies and Yara Marine Technologies, who partnered in 2021 to offer commercial-scale wind-assisted propulsion technology to the global shipping industry.
The installation will involve the 2018-built, 210,000 DWT bulk carrier Berge Olympus, making Berge Bulk an early adopter of the technology. The large, solid wing sails will measure up to 50 meters tall and will be capable of reducing CO2 emissions by as much as 30% through a combination of wind propulsion and route optimisation, according to a joint press release. A video also shows the sails tilting.
“At Berge Bulk, we believe in the results that can be achieved by harnessing wind power,” says James Marshall, CEO of Berge Bulk. “Evaluating this groundbreaking technology, the estimated impact on reducing emissions can be at least as significant as transitional fuels. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with BAR Tech and Yara Marine to install the first WindWings onboard Berge Olympus and for the optimisation needed when deploying such innovative technologies.”
The agreement follows an Approval-in-Principle (AiP) in November 2021 from classification society DNV for WindWings, aka BARTech WindWings by Yara Marine Technologies.
BAR Technologies was formed in 2016 as a spin-off of the British America’s Cup racing team BAR, founded by competitive sailor and decorated Olympian Ben Ainslie.
“Berge Bulk’s decision to invest in our WindWings technology is a clear endorsement of its commitment to moving to decarbonise its vessel fleet and be one of the leaders of sustainable change in shipping,” said John Cooper, Chief Executive Officer, BAR Technologies. “By retrofitting WindWings technology to existing vessels, firms like Berge Bulk can begin to make an immediate impact on decarbonising their fleets while at the same time seeing significant efficiencies in current fuel use. With Berge Bulk joining a pipeline of WindWings installations through 2023, we look forward to working with our partners to make significant inroads into reducing vessel carbon emissions.”
The installation comes as the commercial shipping industry is increasingly turning to modern wind-assisted propulsion technology to help decarbonize.
MAN Energy Solutions has completed the world’s first retrofit of a Very Large Container Vessel (VLCV) to enable green methanol operation. The Maersk Halifax, a 15,000 TEU containership, underwent an...
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has concluded one of its two investigations into Canadian ballast water regulations affecting Great Lakes shipping, marking a significant development in U.S.-Canada maritime relations. The...
4 hours ago
Total Views: 216
Why Join the gCaptain Club?
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.