Testing Wind Power

Norwegian classification society DNV has released a new Recommended Practice (RP) to assess the performance of Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS).

DNV notes that, with some 50 systems now in operation, WAPS have emerged as a promising solution for the maritime industry to realise fuel savings and emissions reductions. It says that as shipping’s transition to more sustainable but higher cost fuels accelerates, these efficiency gains can translate into significant cost savings.

“At DNV we have been working on WAPS installations for several years and were the first classification society to publish rules and standards to enable their deployment,” says Johanna Tranell, WAPS Performance Assessment Lead, at DNV Maritime. “But for energy efficiency technologies like WAPS to break through to wider deployment, we need the industry to be confident in their effectiveness. The new RP establishes a practical, reliable standard that helps us generate transparent, verifiable data, building trust in the potential of these systems.”

DNV’s Recommended Practice proposes an on/off methodology – engaging and disengaging the WAPS system under similar operational and environmental conditions – to measure performance. The classification society asserts: “This provides a robust framework that, combined with independent third-party verification, delivers actionable insights for shipowners and operators looking to install WAPS on their vessels.”

“Industry collaboration and consensus are vital as we work towards a greener future for shipping,” says Hans Anton Tvete, Business Development Manager at DNV Maritime. “And to build consensus we need a shared understanding – backed by standardised, verifiable data. By working together to shape this new RP, the maritime community can ensure that these solutions are truly making an effective contribution to our decarbonisation.”

Meanwhile WAPS manufacturer bound4blue has completed of the installation of the “world’s largest suction sails”, with four 26-metre high eSAILs fitted to the Atlantic Orchard. Chartered by Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) and owned by Wisby Tankers AB, Sweden (Wisby Tankers), the specialised juice carrier had the sails fitted in a single stop already planned for the vessel’s 10-year survey at Astander Shipyard, Santander, Spain, ensuring optimal efficiency.