ORIX Corporation and Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine&Engineering Co., Ltd. are studying the possibility of using wind power to save energy on one of ORIX’s cargo ships, reports ORIX.
Wing Shaped Sail
The feasibility study will utilize a wing-shaped soft sail set on the derrick post of its bulk carrier to obtain wind power as assisting power for the ship’s propulsion.
The soft sail used in this study is made of advanced polyethylene fiber fabric, dimensioned 8 meters in height and 13.2 meters in width. Its attacking angle can be adjusted depending on the wind direction. By utilizing wind power as an auxiliary propulsive force, the aim is to reduce the consumption of heavy fuel oil, which is being used as the primary fuel, and decrease CO2 emissions.
In this study, SHI-ME and NSJ will handle the design of the wind-assisted propulsion system, including the soft sail, and the analysis of operational data when the sail is in use. ORIX will be responsible for installing the soft sail and measuring and collecting fuel efficiency data during operation. The energy-saving effects will be calculated as theoretical values based on the data obtained from this experiment.
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Source: ORIX
