Written by
Nick Blenkey
VentoFoil answer is available in a container with a typical 40-foot footprint. [Photo: ONE]
Ocean Community Specific (ONE), the ocean provider established in 2017 by Japan’s Okay-Line, MOL and NYK, is launch of a brand new trial aimed toward unlocking the potential of wind assisted propulsion. Following profitable completion of a manufacturing facility take a look at, ONE is partnering with Netherlands-based wind-powered expertise specialist Econowind to put in two of its VentoFoil containerized wind help units on the MV Kalamazoo. The 1,036 TEU feeder vessel operates between Pusan, Yokohama, and Honolulu, and is owned by Norse UK and operated by Goodwood Ship Administration, Singapore.
The VentoFoil system is containerized in a field with a typical container footprint to ease supply and set up.
The VentoFoils, which resemble airplane wings, are geared up with a sensible suction system that optimizes airflow and maximizes thrust. Stated to have the potential to generate as much as 400 kW of energy, lowering gasoline consumption by 5%, they’re absolutely automated, modify for wind pace and route, and may be began from the ship’s bridge.
“ONE is dedicated to minimizing our environmental impression and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050,” stated Hiroki Tsujii, managing director at ONE. “This trial with Econowind is a crucial step ahead in our efforts to discover progressive and sustainable options for the maritime business.”
The trial, scheduled to start in January 2024 and run for roughly six months, shall be a complete research, with ONE intently monitoring the efficiency of the VentoFoils. Information on gasoline consumption, emissions reductions, and general operational effectivity shall be collected. The outcomes of the trial shall be used to evaluate the long-term viability of wind propulsion as a sustainable delivery answer.
