Singapore-based Ocean Network Express (ONE) has decided to install two containerised wind assist units on one of their operated container feeder ships before the end of 2023. The 143-metre, 1036-TEU Kalamazoo is owned by Singapore-based Norse and the wind assist systems will be supplied by the Dutch company, Econowind.
It is one of key initiatives of ONE’s operational cost optimisation project cluster called “Sapphire + Project”, and it can also contribute to the decarbonisation initiatives in ONE’s Green Strategy.
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Next generation VentoFoil
The two containerised units will be equipped with the latest wing design from Econowind, the VentoFoil. These have smart suction systems in order to control the airflow around the wing-shaped element ensuring maximal trust per surface area. The 10.5 x 2.8-metre VentoFoil units will be able to generate thrust to save up to 400 kW of engine power.
ONE, Norse and Econowind have studied wind assisted propulsion together and it is expected to contribute both to the reduction of fuel oil consumption, and it will also have a positive effect over a wide range of operations.
‘This first wind assist system utilization will be a great milestone to our goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050,’ says Takashi Kase, Senior Vice President of ONE.
Frank Nieuwenhuis, CEO of Econowind, adds: ‘We are delighted to add ONE to our customer base as the first Asian partner, making a big step in making shipping more sustainable. The more installations we can retrofit, the more data we can attain and learn from. This provides us with solid proof of how wind assisted ship propulsion is reducing emissions per nautical mile and with vessels improving their EEXI/EEDI (Energy Efficiency eXisting ship Index/Energy Efficiency Design Index, Ed.). This also serves as a justification for the investment; the costs of systems can be covered by the savings generated.’
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