Wind-Assisted Containership Receives Class Approval in Principle

A new concept design for a wind-assisted containership has been awarded an Approval in Principle by classification society Bureau Veritas.

The design, named “Trade Winds 2500”, envisions a LNG-powered ship equipped with six wingsails to achieve a CO2 emission reductions of as much 35% based on a typical transatlantic route of 4,000 nautical miles compared to a conventionally-powered ship.

With an overall length of 197-meters and a breadth of 32-meters, the vessel will have a deadweight of 32,500 m tons and capacity of 2,500 twenty-foot equivalent containers. Although the size makes the it suitable for short sea shipping operations or feeder services in Europe, Central America, Caribbean Islands and China, the ship can also operate also on transatlantic routes.

Trade Wings 2,500 was jointly developed by VPLP Design (France), Alwena Shipping (France), SDARI (a member of member of China State Shipbuilding Co.) and AYRO (France), with the Approval in Principle awarded by Bureau Veritas.

The basic design features hybrid propulsion with six retractable Oceanwings® wingsails and an LNG power plant designed with pure gas 4-stroke gensets. LNG storage will be based on GTT’s Mark III containment system. It will also come with a conversion upgrade option to future decarbonized fuels such as Ammonia or Hydrogen. Looking at the overall CO2 savings, the Oceanwings® wingsails will account for approximately 57% while the optimized LNG propulsion will deliver the remains 43% savings.

Below you can see how the wingsails will retract during cargo operations:

“Wind-assisted propulsion is a high-potential solution that can contribute to the long-term decarbonization of the marine industry. We have just released new wind propulsion system rules – and this innovative design, approved in principle by BV, including a sliding mechanism, demonstrates the feasibility of wind-assisted propulsion on board container ships with deck space limitations,” said Alex Gregg-Smith, Senior Vice-President Bureau Veritas for North Asia.

“Benefitting from a coverless hatch and LNG electric pod propulsion, the design provides both operational flexibility, improved efficiency and reduced carbon emissions, complying with, or exceeding, regulatory requirements. Bureau Veritas continues to address the challenges of the energy transition by providing solutions to the safety, risk and performance requirements for innovation in future fuels and propulsion systems,” Gregg-Smith said.