Wallenius Wilhelmsen Unveils Plan for Wind-Powered RoRo to Debut in 2025

Wallenius Wilhelmsen has announced plans for a wind-powered pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) as the Norwegian and Swedish-based shipping company seeks to reduce carbon emissions from ocean shipping.

“Since 2008, we have been able to reduce CO2 intensity by 33%, which is a significant step. But the journey towards zero emissions requires great strides forward,” says Craig Jasienski, CEO of Wallenius Wilhelmsen. “We believe Orcelle Wind is one of them.”

Orcelle Wind will be the name of the new full-scale wind-powered roll-on/roll-off car carrier which the company hopes to debut as soon as 2025. Once completed, the vessel will have the capacity to carry 7,000 vehicles at speeds of 10-12 knots under sail – a speed that can be increased with the help of an onboard supplemental power system.

In addition to cars, the 220-meter-long wind-powered vessel will also be able to transport heavy machinery and breakbulk products.

The company says plans are in place to have a design ready for contracting with a shipyard by mid-2022, with the finished vessel expected to set sail by 2025, subject to a comprehensive viability evaluation.

To pass muster, Orcelle Wind must satisfy regulatory standards relating to safety and technical performance. Operational needs must also be meet, such as the suitability for deployment on multiple global trade lanes and the ability to manoeuvre in port in bad weather, according to Wallenius Wilhelmsen.

“Orcelle Wind will be our technical and operational testbed for zero emission innovation, where we can assess and develop various zero-emission fuels and technology,” says Erik Noeklebye, EVP and COO of shipping services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen.