Manufacturers of wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS) are reporting a surge of interest in their products in the wake of new greenhouse gas policies and the industry’s wider decarbonisation efforts. As well as supplying newbuilds, these manufacturers are noting an upswing in retrofit orders.
One such WAPS manufacturer is BAR Technologies, whose CEO, John Cooper, says: “As a natural resource, the amount of wind available for harvesting on each voyage will fluctuate, but the data is very clear: when averaged out over time, wind represents a steady, reliable and highly abundant resource which can be effectively ‘bunkered’ along many trade routes.”
BAR Technologies reports “a dramatic increase in enquiries” in 2024 with regard to its WindWings wind-assisted propulsion system. Cooper adds: “It has been inspiring to witness the shift in attitudes as the global focus has sharpened on decarbonisation. BAR Technologies’ solutions, such as WindWings, directly address the urgent need for solutions that reduce emissions and align with regulations such as FuelEU Maritime, the EU Emissions Trading System and other global carbon taxes. These policies highlight the increasing demand for efficient, eco-friendly products that meet compliance requirements and drive operational cost savings for our clients.”
Following testing between August 2023 and March 2024, a WindWings retrofit demonstrated that energy consumption on the main engine of Mitsubishi Corporation’s Pyxis Ocean, a 229m Kamsarmax bulk carrier, was reduced by 32% per nautical mile, following independent assessment by DNV Maritime. Building on this success late last year, BAR Technologies announced the signing of an MoU with Mitsubishi Corporation and Nihon Shipyard. The MoU will set a framework for further collaborations between the three businesses following the Pyxis Ocean WindWings installation.
To meet growing demand, BAR Technologies is investing heavily in expanding its workforce. This has included four additional naval architects and 13 engineers – with expertise spanning software development, systems control and composite design – over the past year.
Catch the full, in-depth feature in the March issue of The Naval Architect, published soon
