NYK Group company NYK Bulkship (Atlantic) has installed two wind-assisted ship-propulsion units on the bulk carrier ‘NBA Magritte’ at the port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, the first time a unit of this type has been installed on an NYK Group vessel.
The VentoFoil sail units sit on a 20ft fat rack container with no walls, and uses a 16m vertical wing that acts as suction sail, for which about five times as much force can be exerted compared to no-suction versions. The suction sail generates lift by catching the wind with a structure with an air intake system to control the boundary layer of fluid around the structure.
The VentoFoil claims the following features:
- It creates propulsion with the pressure difference on both sides of the wing and is expected to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during vessel navigation.
- It takes in wind through its suction port and obtains greater propulsion by amplifying the pressure difference.
- The system can be easily activated and deactivated through a touch panel installed on the bridge, enabling operation without increasing the crew’s workload.
- It is smaller than similar wind equipment, making it easy to install and relocate.
- It can be folded in under six minutes, keeping it out of the way of cargo handling.
The NBA Magritte is engaged in a long-term charter contract with Cargill (USA) and will collect data on the propulsion generated by this equipment, as well as meteorological and ocean conditions during navigation, and measure the unit’s effectiveness in collaboration with Cargill International and NYK subsidiary MTI. The initiative is part of NYK’s long-term target of net-zero emissions of GHGs by 2050 for the NYK Group’s oceangoing businesses. The NYK Group says it will utilise the knowledge gained in this research and development to promote initiatives related to various energy-saving technologies, including the use of wind power.
Image: Two VentoFoil units have been installed on bulk carrier ‘NBA Magritte’ (source: NYK)
