Windship Technology, a UK company with a proposal for a whole-ship solution to tackle CO2 emissions within the shipping industry, has unveiled its designs and announced an investment partnership with the DNV classification agency.
The company says that its design team developed and tested a high-performance, highly efficient triple-wing rig at the Wolfson Unit in Southampton. The technical team says it has also developed a new diesel-electric ship drive system that eliminates CO2 , NOX , SOX and particulate matter to achieve true zero emissions, while also incorporating large solar arrays, carbon capture, optimized hull shapes and specialized weather routing software into the overall vessel design package.
The eye-catching triple-wing rig is claimed to produce a driving force several multiples greater than single-masted solutions of the same height currently being promoted in the industry. The 48m rig is stowable on deck to aid port navigation and cargo handling. According to the company, the composite structure is borne out of technology and design from the wind turbine industry.
Prof. Philip Wilson, professor emeritus of ship dynamics in the Ship Science department at the University of Southampton, says he is convinced by Windship Technology’s solution, “The holistic approach demonstrated in this solution, whereby wind power, solar power and the reduction of harmful exhaust emissions to effectively zero are all brought together, means that at last there is a design solution that the International Maritime Organization can champion to achieve its requirements for ‘at least’ zero carbon shipping.”
DNV will be conducting both an outside-in and inside-out verification to fully assess Windship Technology’s whole-ship design with a view to classifying emission reductions, safety and operability.
Per Marius Berrefjord, senior vice president at DNV, commented, “We are delighted to be working with such experienced professionals at Windship Technology on a project that aims to help transform the entire shipping industry to True Zero. We will work closely with the project team in a fully transparent manner as we now initiate the work to establish a simulation model that will help us verify the GHG emission reduction capability of the technology.
“We are also preparing for a HAZID that will verify the safety and operability of ships with Windship Technology installed,” he continued. “These activities will be followed by further verification activities as the project moves forward. Windship is supplying information in a fully transparent manner, and DNV will ensure a thorough verification process. We are looking forward to diving deeper into the very interesting technology presented by Windship.”
Lars Carlsson, director of Windship Technology, highlighted that the cooperation with DNV would be pivotal in proving the worth of its technology: “Working with DNV is a major step toward proving true zero-emission status. The industry cannot sit back any longer. The clock is ticking and regulation will force a new approach for an industry that is traditionally hesitant to change. Shipping is not fit for purpose in the future. Shipping and oil companies are the only major industries still increasing their emissions and must change and think differently if there is to be any hope of reaching the emissions targets set out in law.”
