Wind assisted propulsion system (WAPS) company Blue Wasp Marine has launched a software tool, known as Pelican Suite, which is intended to enable vessel owners, operators and charterers to assess and optimise a range of WAPS solutions.
Pelican Suite includes a suite of tools to assess the suitability of a range of WAPS solutions both pre- and post-installation. It provides insights such as the probability that a certain rudder angle or grid load is exceeded, or which routes are more favourable for wind assistance.
Pre-installation, it compares the impact of different WAPS solutions on vessel operations as well as on compliance with regulations such as CII, EEXI and FuelEU. Pelican Suite will inform on fuel savings and reveal the expected payback period associated with a WASP installation. Post installation, Pelican Suite helps monitor performance, benchmarking and optimisation of a system.
The new software is based on Blue Wasp’s proven Pelican product, resulting from extensive PhD research. Pelican is already trusted by large shipping companies, having been successfully employed in more than 50 projects. The software leverages a database of wind propulsion systems, including Rotorsails, Wingsails, Suction Wings and Kitesails. This is combined with a comprehensive dataset of vessel types. Pelican is believed to be the first software tool of its kind to be recognised by a classification society, having been awarded approval in principle (AiP) from RINA.
Blue Wasp Marine Co-Founder, CEO and R&D Lead Dr Giovanni Bordogna said: “Pelican Suite marks the latest evolution of our Pelican software. It is an easy to use tool that does not require in-depth technical knowledge of wind propulsion. As such, it aims to make wind assisted ship propulsion solutions, and the significant associated benefits, more widely accessible. Pelican Suite will support vessel operators, both in building a business case for wind assisted propulsion, and in getting the best from their investments.”
Image: Pelican Suite WAPS software (source: Blue Wasp Marine)
