MC Shipping Kamsarmax announced the completion of six months of testing of a bulk carrier with two auxiliary wing sails, which removed part of the workload from diesel engines in windy weather. The result exceeded expectations. The sails were expected to reduce consumption to 1.5 tons of fuel per day, but in practice, an average of 3 tons of diesel was saved per day, and on some days up to 11 tons. Therefore, the experience will be adopted and disseminated.
The 43,000 tonne Singapore-flagged Pyxis Ocean, operated by MC Shipping Kamsarmax and chartered by Cargill, has been retrofitted with two foil sails developed by British company BAR Technologie. The wing sails are manufactured by the Norwegian company Yara Marine Technologies. The ship itself was provided by the Japanese, and the installation of the sails was carried out by the Chinese shipyard COSCO.
The height of the sail is 37.5 m. The width of the fixed part is 10 m, and the two rotating “wings” are 5 m wide. In strong winds, in calm conditions and when entering the port, the sails are laid on the deck. The automation itself adjusts the wing profile and wind orientation for optimal course movement. The course, by the way, can be maneuverable taking into account the wind rose, but with reference to the schedule – you can play with the course parameters if the goal is to save fuel as much as possible.
The sails are raised at the command of the captain. The signal for this will be a simple indication: red – the sail cannot be raised, green – lifting is recommended. You don’t need to think much, and even less so to control the sail. During the trial from August 2023, the ship crossed the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the North and South Atlantic, and also passed Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope. The project involves installing three sails on each such cargo ship, which will further increase fuel economy and reduce emissions, while maritime transportation makes a colossal negative contribution to the Earth’s carbon footprint.
The operator intends to sail the Pyxis Ocean through all possible ports to ensure the compatibility of the sail design and port infrastructure. But in principle, it is already ready to equip all its ships with similar sails.
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