Wind-powered cargo ship begins maiden voyage in ‘milestone’ for sustainable shipping

MAIDEN VOYAGE: The Vectis Progress leaves Hull

EXCLUSIVE

By Angus Young

A pioneering wind-powered cargo ship has set sail from Hull in what is being billed as a major milestone for sustainable shipping.

The Vectis Progress is now fitted with a vertical hi-tech propulsion system called AirWing, which its developers GT Wings say can produce ten times the thrust of a conventional sail while significantly reducing a vessel’s fuel consumption.

It works by sucking air into an internal fan system to generate extra power through increased air flows.

The complex installation of AirWing was carried out by MMS Ship Repair on Alexandra Dock in Hull.

As well as securing the 20- metre AirWing in place, the work also involved major structural modifications to the vessel including 9.6 tonnes of steel being replaced below deck, 8.7 tonnes of steel being fitted to the deck to create a support platform and the installation of 7.5km of new electrical cabling.

In addition, all onboard equipment, stores and spares were removed and reinstalled ahead of stability testing.   

The general cargo ship left for Bilbao in Spain earlier this week. From there she will cross the Atlantic heading for Canada.

GT Wings chief executive and founder George Thompson is onboard to keep a close eye on how the technology is performing.

He said: “After countless late nights and relentless effort from the team, AirWing has officially set sail on its maiden voyage from Hull to Spain.

“Wind propulsion cuts both fuel costs and carbon emission at a time when rising non-compliance costs make cleaner shipping a no-brainer.

“Every tonne of thrust from wind means less reliance on the engine and fewer emissions in the air.”

Vessel owners Carisbrooke Shipping said the successful installation of the AirWing in Hull had been completed ahead of schedule.

Captain Simon Merritt, Carisbrooke’s senior  fleet manager,  said: “For the past three years Carisbrooke Shipping has been working in collaboration with GT Wings as a consortium member to develop, install and certify a prototype wind propulsion system.

“Early last year the project secured £3.7m in funding from Innovate UK, setting an ambitious 12-month timeline for completion with the project concluding on 1 April this year.

‘A NO-BRAINER’: GT Wings chief executive George Thompson on board Vectis Progress

“Through dedicated effort, we have successfully installed the AirWing prototype ahead of schedule with all project milestones met.

“Although sea trials are ongoing, the installation was completed in recent weeks and class society trials, along with certification, were conducted off the coast of Hull last Sunday.

“This project presented numerous challenges, from ensuring compliance with International Maritime Organisation and local regulations to working within a restricted deck footprint amidst spaces carrying dangerous goods.

“Additionally, our partners had limited maritime experience, making the final installation phase particularly complex. At its peak, the shipyard hosted 27 personnel assembling and installing the AirWing.

“Sea trials will continue in the coming weeks, focusing on automation and performance optimisation. Encouragingly, initial reports indicate a promising speed increase even under light winds.”

AHEAD OF SCHEDULE: The Vectis Progress in Alexandra Dock

He added: “A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to this pioneering project, especially those who braved the harsh winter conditions in Hull to bring this vision to life. Their commitment and perseverance have been instrumental in achieving this milestone.”

Capt Merritt said projections suggest Vectis Progress could achieve an 8.3 per cent reduction in fuel consumption if the technology works as planned. However, even greater efficiency gains are forecast because of the prevailing wind conditions on the transatlantic route.

AirWing is designed to operate in winds up to 45 knots (and withstand speeds of 100 knots).

MMS Ship Repair managing director Rob Langton said: “There are vast opportunities with this and I am sure that once the technology has proved itself, there will be many ships it will be fitted to.

“MMS would like to take this opportunity to thank GT Wings and Carisbrooke Shipping for engaging our shipyard to assist with the new design.”