Oceanbird introduces the next phase of development

A mockup of Oceanbird
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The Alfa Laval-Wallenius joint venture, Oceanbird, has revealed the next phase of its rigid wind sail development.

The company plans to install sails on board an all-car and truck transport company (PCTC) next year and a new PCTC, Orcelle Wind, is being designed with the sails and could be operational in four years.

The first retrofit project will be carried out aboard Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s all-car and truck transporter Tirranna, which coincides with the dry-dock of the 7,620-CEU ship in 2024. A single sail will be installed for trials and the project will include hull modifications and strength and stability testing.

At a presentation yesterday, the company highlighted the 60,000 existing ships that are potential retrofit candidates. Ro-Ros are a good place to start as they have a clear deck and no vision issues. However, the company hopes that the Tirranna project will provide valuable experience that will enable retrofitting of other ship types, including tankers, bulk carriers and container ships.

With potential fuel and emissions savings of 7-10% on existing ships, the sails could increase the ships’ carbon intensity performance, the company noted, as the IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) tightens in the second half of the decade.

However, for purpose-built new vessels, the potential savings are far more dramatic. The company has previously stated potential fuel and emissions savings of up to 90%, allowing ships to be fitted with much smaller engines.

The first sails are 40 m high and 14 m wide. Constructed of high strength steel and fiberglass composite, they can be lowered to meet draft restrictions or tilted in inclement weather. They can be used in winds of up to 40 knots, which corresponds to the upper end of the Beaufort scale of force 8.

Land-based sail prototypes will be tested later this year. This will facilitate mechanical and operational refinements and provide an opportunity for crew training.

Source: News Network

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