BAR Technologies, Deltamarin hull design makes wind power more efficient

BAR Technologies and naval architect Deltamarin are collaborating on a new design for an LR2 tanker that harnesses wind propulsion.

The announcement comes off the back of a previous collaboration on WindWings, which will debut on Mitsubishi Corp’s bulker Pyxis Ocean. WindWings was initially trialled on the same ship as part of the EU Horizon 2020 Project CHEK.

BAR Technologies has previously worked with commodities giant Cargill to install WindWings on a Kamsarmax ship.

Progress has been made in wind propulsion, with an increasing number of major shipowners open to trialling the system. But maximising the efficiency of wind propulsion requires a host of factors to be considered, including vessel type, route optimisation and further research on how performance can be improved under the water’s surface.

BAR Technologies and Deltamarin are focusing their energies on improving efficiency below the waterline, pointing out that both existing ships and newbuilds lack optimal hull and propulsion designs to make the most of wind-assisted propulsion. To remedy this, BAR Technologies and Deltamarin will work on hull forms modified specifically to maximise wind power.

“The opportunities moving forward with wind power are vast. Being familiar with BAR Technologies’ expert innovation in wind propulsion, we are delighted to collaborate on what both companies see as the next vital stage for wind-assisted sea travel: hull optimisation,” Deltamarin sales and marketing director Esa Jokioinen said.

“So far, we have made fine progress in harnessing wind power using sails, but we are finding increased performance all the time and, with this hull design, we are witnessing a 15% improvement against our current fleet.”

The companies did not elaborate on the specific design changes, but the partners said they hope to save as much as 10 tonnes of fuel per day using an Aframax/LR2 hull and four WindWings using a North America-Rotterdam roundtrip as an example.

“Wind is the free fuel, and it is the gauntlet laid down in front of innovators like ourselves to work out how we can displace fossil fuels with wind power” said BAR Technologies chief executive John Cooper.

“It has been a privilege to partner with the best shipyards to retrofit WindWings, and we are especially excited to partner with the best oceangoing naval architects for big ship design in Deltamarin. The Aframax/LR2 is the first of many announcements.”