In the race to develop new, environmentally-friendly
shipping technologies, a British company is promoting what it is calling the
first true zero-emission ship design. Windship Technology, which says that it
is developing a whole-ship solution to CO2 emissions, unveiled its designs that
incorporate wind and solar technologies. The company will be working with
classification society DNV for the verification of the technology.
The company’s technical director Simon Rogers and his design
team reportedly started with a clean slate to develop and test their concepts
for a zero-emissions ship. The design features a patented triple-wing rig and a
new diesel-electric ship drive system to eliminate CO2, NOX, SOX, and
particulate matter emissions. They also incorporated large solar arrays, carbon
capture, optimized hull shapes, and specialized weather routing software into
the overall design package. The design was tested at the Wolfson Unit in
Southampton.
The triple-wing rigs, Windship reports, produce a driving
force several multiples greater than single masted solutions of the same height
currently being promoted in the industry. Their 48 meter (157 feet) rig is also
stowable on deck to aid port navigation and cargo handling. Its composite
structure is borne out of technology and design from the wind turbine industry,
ensuring reliability and longevity of greater than 25 years.
As the next stage in the development of their system, Windship
announced a partnership investment with the international registrar and
classification society DNV. The Norwegian society will conduct both an
outside-in and inside-out verification to fully assess Windship Technology’s
whole-ship design and its ability at emission reductions, safety, and
operability.
“We will work closely with the project team in a fully
transparent manner as we now initiate the work to establish a simulation model
that will help us verify the GHG emission reduction capability of the
technology,” said Per Marius Berrefjord, Senior Vice President of DNV. “We are
also preparing for a HAZID that shall verify the safety and operability of
ships with Windship Technology installed. These activities will be followed by
further verification activities as the project moves forward. Windship is
supplying information in a fully transparent manner, and DNV will ensure a
thorough verification process.”
Windship Technology is promoting its design concept as the
“Tesla of the Seas,” able to present a viable and economical solution for
ocean-going bulk carriers and oil tankers. Windship Technology is now looking
to establish commercial partnerships with major ship owners, operators, and
investors with the vision to transform the shipping industry and address the
growing emissions issues.