Wallenius Wilhelmsen
has announced plans for a wind-powered pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) as the
Norwegian and Swedish-based shipping company seeks to reduce carbon emissions
from ocean shipping.
“Since 2008, we have been able to reduce CO2 intensity by
33%, which is a significant step. But the journey towards zero emissions
requires great strides forward,” says Craig Jasienski, CEO of Wallenius
Wilhelmsen. “We believe Orcelle Wind is one of them.”
Orcelle Wind will be the name of the new full-scale
wind-powered roll-on/roll-off car carrier which the company hopes to debut as
soon as 2025. Once completed, the vessel will have the capacity to carry 7,000
vehicles at speeds of 10-12 knots under sail – a speed that can be increased
with the help of an onboard supplemental power system.
In addition to cars, the 220-meter-long wind-powered vessel
will also be able to transport heavy machinery and breakbulk products.
The company says plans are in place to have a design ready
for contracting with a shipyard by mid-2022, with the finished vessel expected
to set sail by 2025, subject to a comprehensive viability evaluation.
To pass muster, Orcelle Wind must satisfy regulatory
standards relating to safety and technical performance. Operational needs must
also be meet, such as the suitability for deployment on multiple global trade
lanes and the ability to manoeuvre in port in bad weather, according to
Wallenius Wilhelmsen.
“Orcelle Wind will be our technical and operational testbed
for zero emission innovation, where we can assess and develop various
zero-emission fuels and technology,” says Erik Noeklebye, EVP and COO of
shipping services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen.