Another company will conduct research with eConowind’s Ventifoils. Schram Shipping has ordered two 16-metre-tall wind-assist units from the company. By the end of 2021, they will be retrofitted on the 89.9 x14 metres, 5097 DWT general cargo vessel MV Anna, built in 2008.
The order is part of research to optimise wind-assisted propulsion. Other companies that had eConowind units installed include Van Dam Shipping, Tharsis Shipping and Boomsma Shipping.
‘When we realised the possibility of retrofitting a wind assist unit and how we can save CO2 emissions on our current ship, I was very enthusiastic right away: working with the wind instead of fighting the wind all the time,’ says Gerrit Schram, co-owner of Schram Shipping. ‘We always want to be innovative with our currently running vessels. The installation is relatively simple and operations are hardly impacted at all, so we just want to do this now, joining the research. We will make this move as a “natural following step“ in being a cost effective operator.’
Also read: Boomsma orders VentiFoil wind-assisted propulsion with Flatracks
Gerrit Schram also involved his Commercial Manager, Vertom, to see how this project could support the whole group in which he operates. Thomas van Meerkerk of Vertom states: ‘We are very happy Schram Shipping, which has been sailing for Vertom for over twenty years now, signed this agreement for this Ventifoil project as the first ship of the almost 100 ships in our operations. We will follow the process closely and will study the results of the research to see what it can bring us in the future.’
Also read: Tharsis Shipping orders new type of eConowind wind-assist installation
Experience with long-haul shipping
‘We are delighted to add Schram shipping to our customer base and we will get experience in this project on more long-haul shipping, such as the MV Anna operating frequently on the route from Rotterdam to Spain and the Mediterranean area,’ adds Frank Nieuwenhuis, CEO of eConowind.
Also read: Wind assisted ship propulsion puts the sail back into sailing
Picture: General cargo vessel MV Anna (by Schram Shipping).
