LR: Sail Power Could Drop Fuel Costs 30 Percent

The Windship sails would be able to rotate to catch the prevailing wind

An initial assessment suggests that a sail power concept now under development could reduce bulk carriers' fuel cost by 30 percent on a voyage, according to Lloyd's Register (LR).

A consortium of shipping industry players, Windship Technology Ltd. (Windship Technology), developed the concept, known as Auxiliary Sail Propulsion System (ASPS), which would let a ship use two 35-metre high masts that rotate automatically to catch the prevailing wind, allowing for a reduction in engine power depending on the strength and direction of the wind.

LR's Technical Investigation Department conducted computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tests on a Supramax bulk carrier, which showed that the sail system could provide more than 50 percent of the necessary propulsive thrust for a vessel, depending on conditions.

"Should these results be reflected in actual operation of a real ship, the operational fuel savings will be very significant and will be of great interest to the owners and operators of suitable ships," said Hector Sewell, LR's head of sales and marketing.

"We look forward to helping clients understand how such a system can help them."

Hampshire UK based yacht designer Simon Rogers developed the ASPS concept.

"I am very excited by the new concept which is taking the very latest principles of sailing and applying them to modern ship design," he said.

The men behind Windship Technology are the concept designer Simon Rogers; Robert Elliott of the law firm Linklaters; Guy Walker of Star Marine; David Barrow, former director of Sparcraft (Europe) Ltd.; and Lars Carlsson, former chairman of INTERTANKO, according to the company website.