Uni-Tankers installs sails on vessel to cut fuel consumption

Uni-Tankers' Jutlandia Swan has been equipped with four wingsails as part of Denmark’s Cleanship project, to test their efficiency at sea, the shipping firm and the Danish Technological Institute have said.

IMAGE: Wingsails are fitted on the Jutlandia Swan. Uni-Tankers

Uni-Tankers and Cleanship aim to measure the real effect of wind-assisted propulsion on fuel use and emissions under actual operating conditions on the commercial vessel. Their project is funded by the Danish Environmental Protection agency.

Project Cleanship said in a LinkedIn post that the performance of the sails will be continuously monitored through the ship’s systems, which track fuel consumption, speed, engine load and weather conditions.

Wingsails offer an energy alternative by using wind to provide additional thrust and reducing load on main engines.

Earlier in June, the International Windship Association (IWSA) reported that the global fleet of large commercial vessels equipped with wind-assisted propulsion systems has reached 70 vessels, with around 130 more on order.

“Wind-assisted propulsion holds clear potential, but its real value depends on how well it is integrated into daily operations. We now have the opportunity to test how these sails perform at sea, what they mean for fuel efficiency, and how the crew can work with them in practice” said Kristian Larsen, technical director at Uni-Tankers.

Uni-Tankers said it is developing training, maintenance and operational procedures to ensure that its crew can operate the sails safely and effectively.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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