Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), MOL Tech-Trade (MOLTT), the Tokai University and Akishima Laboratories have signed an agreement for the joint study of wind-powered vessel propulsion that utilizes aerospace engineering technologies.
Ishin, a ship design created by MOL, MOLTT and Akishima Laboratories, aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by utilizing wind for vessel propulsion. The three companies will now conduct the advanced development and implementation of technology that optimizes the hull shape of wind-powered ships, adopting aerospace engineering technologies into the design through collaboration with Dr Kota Fukuda, the associate professor at the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Tokai University, Japan.
Dr Fukuda and his team have previously conducted research on the fluid dynamics and flow phenomena of rockets and aircrafts and also developed high-performance solar cars and solar unmanned airplanes. Through the joint study, his team seeks to expand its research fields to vessel engineering and ocean-going vessel development.
At present, the Ishin ship design is stated to reduce vessel GHG emissions by approximately 5% on the Asia to North America route. The group is targeting a GHG reduction of over 12% with the application of new aerodynamic technologies.