- wPCC shows that the maritime industry can bring about major change and that zero-emission shipping is possible, using wind as the main energy source.
- It leaves 90% less emissions than today’s vessels and it takes twelve instead of seven days to cross the Atlantic.
- wPCC is a Swedish collaborative project between Wallenius Marine, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and SSPA.
Wallenius Marine reveals about designing a new sailing era, i.e., the wPCC – wind Powered Car Carrier. It implies that a wind can carry thousands of cars across the oceans.
The collaboration – an efficient Swedish cluster
wPCC is a Swedish collaborative project between Wallenius Marine, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and SSPA.
Swedish Transport Administration supports this project with SEK 27 million for the three-years 2019-2022.
It is an efficient cluster collaboration that draws together experts from the public and private sectors and academia.
- Wallenius Marine is the project coordinator, owns the concept and is also contributing design and logistics expertise.
- KTH addresses the challenges within areas such as aerodynamics, sailing mechanics and performance analysis.
- SSPA is contributing with expertise within the development and validation of new testing methods, aerodynamic and hydrodynamic simulation methods and risk simulation.
The unique design of wPCC
It is a technically challenging project.
The rigging and hull will work together as a single unit to harness the wind in the most efficient way.
The design of the hull suits large sailing cargo vessel that will transport heavy cargo over long distances for long periods of time.
It is a mix of aeronautic and shipbuilding technology. We evaluate performance and safety by using a combination of computer simulations and physical experiments.
Sails
The sails are made of a mixture of metal and composite and will be almost 80 metres high, twice the height of those on the largest sailing vessels around today.
It will be possible to ‘reef’ the sails, reducing their height to approx. 50 metres. The vessels will also be fitted with engines to enable them to manoeuvre in and out of port.
Facts – wPCC
Displacement: 32 000 tons.
Cargo capacity: 7,000 cars.
Length: 200 meters.
Width: 40 meters.
Height incl. wings: 100 meters.
Design speed: 10 knots.
Estimated travel time across the Atlantic: 12 days, compared to approx 7 days today.
Powered by: Mainly by wind. However, it is necessary to equip the vessels with engines for safety reasons and to get in and out of harbour.
Of course, we are looking at the environmentally best alternative even for that engine.
Ready to order: End of 2021.
Will be sailing: In the end of 2024.
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Source: Wallenius Marine
