Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion at sea, (WASP)  has potentials to reduce fuel consumption with 5 to 25%. Some experiments are running and start-ups are in preparation. For a market adoption third party validation and proven concepts are needed to enable a viable business. The WASP’s project aims at connecting new and existing WASP NSR real life trials, creating more credible data and preconditions leading to a market penetration of WASP solutions, thus greening sea transport in the NSR. Example.

WASP has the following workstreams included: (Activities will also depend on new partner needs).

WP 3: Engineering WASP solutions.

WASP solutions are not new and incidentally deployed on ships. Most important are the Flettner rotor, the suction wing, the rigid wing and the dynarigg. Building, installing and running WASP on sea going ships is quite new and joined development is a precondition to improve and upscale WASP. Engineers will design and improve WASP's based on real life testings.

WP 4: Safe operation.

Handling of WASP is a new field of expertise and trainings, curricula will be developed and certified during the project and crews will be trained.

WASP equipment must be certified by designated bodies; drag and stability will change and influence ship behaviour.    

WP 5: Viable business.

Pay back time when deploying WASP's is a new field that will be explored. What are the best business models, what are the relevant data and how to integrate them in OPEX and CAPEX calculations. Who pays for the fuel, the freight owner or the shipowner and what are the best dynamics leading to greening of transport. Manage split incentives, calculate real prices including externalities. Promote concepts like carbon credits.

WP 6: Real Life Trials of WASP.

3 to 5 real life trials are planned during the project lifetime, leading to less fossil fuel and reduction of CO2, SOx, NOx. Mostly retrofits are planned, being a step for shipowners in the transition to new built ships with better optimized WASP equipment's. The real life trials will be on existing shipping lanes with ships carrying freight; proof of the pudding will be fuel and emission reductions. 

Standardized protocols to measure perfomances will be developed to ensure transparent benchmarks of WASP equipments in different setting, including variables like ship sizes, ship concepts, wind potentials, wind directions, freight, bulk, containers, different regions, speed, etc. Third party credible validated data will help suppliers of WASP and new shipowners to deploy proven WASP concepts. Sharing credible data will be the precondition for suppliers and customers when deploying WASP's. (Selling an engine without knowing her performances is a mission impossible).

WP 2: Mainstream, disseminate, adopt proven, validated concepts.

Market adoption of validated proven concepts will be the core process. Companies that can deploy WASP equipments will be identified and involved already during the project development.  

To Be Continued 

• XX tonnes CO2, SOx, NOx, HFO saved.
• 3-5 real life trials.
• 5 proven concepts, ready to be adopted by the market.
• 100 shipowners starting to install WASP in 2022.
• Methods to get credible third party validated data.
• Performance data of different WASP concepts.
• 4 viable business models for WASP concepts.
• Longer term data about operation and maintenance of WASP.
• Improved WASP based on user experiences.
• Trained crews, curriculums for WASP.
• Evaluated and improved manning plans.

To Be Continued 

Meeting the PARIS agreements will be a big challenge, Germanischer Lloyd-DNV concludes this will be difficult. Wind at sea will not impact the Sea Transport footprint. Wind potentials are available and directly reduce fossil fuel and biofuel consumption.  

WASPS are relevant during and after the transition period, WASP can be deployed as a retrofit and thus respect the investment cycle the ship has during her life time.  

Ship transport is sustainable compared to other means of transport, still the impact is considerable and quick wins are feasible. 

The transition to fossil free transport needs a joined NSR approach, critical mass is needed to influence the market with proven WASP concepts. By connecting new and existing WASP initiatives in the NSR complementary expertise will help to reduce emissions.

To Be Continued 

Shipowners, Freight owners, Engineers, Universities. In progress

Shipowners, Freight owners, Engineers, Port authorities, Universities.