NJORD REVISITS WIND ASSISTED PROPULSION SYSTEMS

Hosted by Derick Snell from Strategic Growth at Njord, a green technology entity collaboratively founded by Cargill, Mitsui, and Maersk Tankers.

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Njord’s mission? To assist shipowners and charterers in transitioning to greener technologies.

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This session deep dives into the barriers to adoption, both revisiting those identified during last October's Live Wind-Assisted Propulsion Event and exploring the progress made by leading suppliers while highlighting innovative solutions.

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Additionally, we examine the top three barriers identified by our audience today: high initial CapEx, uncertainty about fuel savings, and the lack of proven long-term performance data.

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To shed light on this, five industry experts join Njord in a panel discussion:

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Steen Jacobsen provides an overview of the various WAPS technologies, including rotor sails, fixed wing sails, suction sails, and hybrid solutions like inflatable sails and kites. Cristina Aleixendri, COO of Bound4Blue, introduces their E Sail, a compact and efficient suction sail. Jukka Kuuskoski, CCOO of Norsepower, showcases rotor sails using the Magnus effect. Niclas Dahl, Managing Director of Oceanbird, explains hard wing sails for high operability. Simon Schofield, CTO of BAR Technologies, discusses their WindWings, offering significant fuel savings.

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Join us in this journey towards a greener maritime world!

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Key Barriers and Panelists' Responses

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The audience highlights three main barriers: high initial CapEx, uncertainty about fuel savings, and the lack of proven long-term performance data.

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1. High Initial CapEx:

Niclas (Oceanbird) notes that as products mature and suppliers ramp up production, efficiency increases, reducing costs, and stresses early-stage collaboration with shipyards to streamline installations. Simon (BAR Technologies) highlights their partnerships to create efficient production lines and standardize installation processes, reducing overall project costs and providing performance guarantees to mitigate financial risk for shipowners. Cristina (Bound4Blue) emphasizes that their suction sails provide paybacks below five years and have streamlined production to reduce costs, offering a free preliminary analysis to assess potential savings. Jukka (Norsepower) mentions working on volume benefits and series production to minimize CapEx, collaborating closely with shipyards to optimize installation processes.

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2. Uncertainty About Fuel Savings:

Simon points to independently verified data showing substantial fuel savings, aligning closely with their simulated predictions, thereby providing confidence to clients. Cristina shares real-world examples showing significant fuel savings and increased speed, emphasizing the importance of validating results through third-party verification. Niclas, although in early stages, expresses confidence that real-world data will soon validate their projections. Jukka cites examples where rotor sails improve seakeeping and safety, thus convincing shipowners of their benefits.

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3. Lack of Proven Long-Term Performance Data:

Cristina highlights the growing number of installations and validated results, demonstrating the reliability of their technology. Steen (Njord) adds that the industry trusts polar plot diagrams and theoretical models, but shipowners are primarily concerned about actual fuel savings on specific voyages. He notes that upcoming regulations like Fuel EU Maritime will de-risk investments by providing fixed rewards for ships with wind-assisted propulsion. Jukka discusses secondary benefits like improved safety and operational efficiency, supported by real-world experiences. Simon mentions the development of predictive maintenance programs based on extensive data monitoring, ensuring long-term reliability.

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Key Discussions and Insights

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Barriers and Solutions:

‍High CAPEX, installation complexity, and energy constraints were identified as primary barriers. Each panelist shared their approach to addressing these challenges, including streamlined production, quick installation processes, and energy-efficient designs. Integration of wind propulsion with other ship systems and the need for crew training were highlighted as crucial for effective implementation.

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‍Questions from the Audience:

‍The discussion covered maintenance requirements, lifespan, integration challenges, and combining different wind-assisted technologies. Panelists emphasized the importance of collaboration, efficient integration, and providing comprehensive service to maximize benefits. Steen Jacobsen added insights on the industry’s reliance on polar plot diagrams and theoretical models, while upcoming regulations like Fuel EU Maritime were noted as key to de-risking investments by providing fixed rewards for ships with wind-assisted propulsion.

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‍Conclusion and Reflection:

‍The poll reveals that high CAPEX and uncertainty about fuel savings are the top barriers. Panelists suggested leveraging statistical analysis, third-party verification, and performance guarantees to address these issues. Jukka Kuuskoski introduced a leasing concept to mitigate CAPEX concerns, offering flexible terms and potential reinstallation on different ships. The event underscores the industry's commitment to overcoming barriers to WAPS adoption through continuous innovation, collaboration, and data-driven validation.

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Future events will continue to explore advancements in maritime technologies, aiming to enhance the commercial and environmental performance of vessels.

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