For the past three years, Carisbrooke Shipping has been working with GT Wings as a consortium member to develop, install, and certify a prototype wind propulsion system. This Ahas now been installed on the MV Vectis Progress and is undergoing trials.
Early last year, the project secured GBP 3.7 million in funding from Innovate UK, setting an ambitious twelve-month timeline for completion, with the project concluding on 1st April 2025.
Sea trials are now ongoing, the installation was completed in recent weeks, and class society trials, along with certification, were conducted off the coast of Hull, UK, on 2 March.
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Restricted deck footrpint
This project presented numerous challenges, from ensuring compliance with IMO and local regulations to working within a restricted deck footprint amidst spaces carrying dangerous goods. Additionally, Carisbrooke‘s partners had limited maritime experience, making the final installation phase particularly complex. At its peak, the shipyard hosted 27 personnel assembling and installing the AirWing.
Project achievements in numbers:
- Structural modifications: 9.6 tonnes of steel replaced below deck.
- Pedestal installation: 8.7 tonnes of steel added to the deck.
- Electrical work: Over 7.5 km of electrical cabling installed.
- Stability tests: Removal and re-installation of all equipment, stores, and spares.
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8.3 per cent reduction in fuel
Despite being installed on an operational vessel, the AirWing is now fully in place. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) projections suggest that MV Vectis Progress could achieve an 8.3 per cent reduction in fuel consumption based on IMO-standard wind distribution. Given the prevailing wind conditions on the vessel’s Canada-Europe route, Carisbrooke anticipates even greater efficiency gains. The AirWing is designed to operate in winds up to 45 knots (Beaufort Force 9) and withstand speeds of 100 knots.
Sea trials will continue in the coming weeks, focusing on automation and performance optimisation. Encouragingly, initial reports indicate a promising speed increase even under light winds.
Picture: Vectis Progress with AirWing installed (photo by Carisbrooke Shipping).
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