The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) has released a new study introducing a standardised and scientifically validated method to measure the performance of wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS). The method was tested on Eastern Pacific Shipping’s MR tanker Pacific Sentinel, which was equipped with three 22-metre suction sails in 2025. Over four months of operations across the Americas, the study gathered high-frequency performance data, demonstrating the system’s potential to accurately quantify fuel and energy savings in real-world conditions.
Validating WAPS Performance Through High-Frequency Monitoring
GCMD’s new method is built on three pillars:
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High-frequency data collection: Weather, vessel speed, heading, and power consumption were recorded every 15 seconds using calibrated sensors.
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On-off testing protocol: Conducted manually and through automatic sail control logic, following ITTC (2024) and DNV (2025) guidelines.
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Statistical analysis: Used to isolate WAPS-related energy savings despite operational and environmental variability.
Screening all transition events for stability resulted in 203 valid performance transitions, providing a strong dataset for evaluating instantaneous power savings. During this period, the vessel frequently encountered near-headwind conditions, resulting in an average 7.2% power saving, with a 95% confidence interval of 6.2%–8.2%.
Wind Conditions, Performance Variability, and Key Insights
The study showed that performance varied significantly depending on wind conditions:
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Higher savings in favourable winds: Instantaneous savings reached 28.1% when the vessel experienced an apparent wind angle of 47° and wind speeds of 15.3 m/s.
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Negative savings in rare cases: Near-headwind scenarios also produced occasional negative savings, with values dropping to –14.0%, though such events were statistically rare (three standard deviations from the mean).
These results confirm that the method can accurately separate environmental influences from actual WAPS performance, offering a robust framework for validating wind-assisted propulsion technologies across diverse operational conditions.
GCMD’s standardised approach provides the maritime industry with a reliable way to measure the real-world energy impact of wind-assisted propulsion systems. The dataset generated not only builds confidence among shipowners and investors but also lays the groundwork for a scalable global energy-savings database. In the long term, this evidence-based foundation could support the development of verified savings factors and pay-as-you-save financing mechanisms, accelerating the widespread adoption of WAPS and contributing to maritime decarbonisation efforts.
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Source: Safety4Sea
