ONE to test wind-assist devices on feeder vessel
For the trial, the container ship is to have two Ventofoils installed on board (Source: ONE)
Singapore-based container line, Ocean Network Express (ONE), is collaborating with Dutch wind power technology firm, Econowind, on plans to install two wind-assist devices on the feeder vessel, Kalamazoo.
The 1,036-TEU container ship, which operates between Pusan, Yokohama, and Honolulu, is to have two Ventofoils installed on board. The vessel is owned by Norse UK and managed by Goodwood Ship Management of Singapore.
Resembling aeroplane wings, the Ventofoils are equipped with a smart suction system that optimises airflow and has the potential to generate up to 400kW of power, reducing fuel consumption by up to 5%. They are fully automatic, adjusting for wind speed and direction, and can be controlled from the ship’s bridge.
The trial is scheduled to start in January and run for about six months. Over that time, ONE will monitor the performance of the Ventofoils, capturing data on fuel consumption, emissions, and operational efficiency. The results of the trial will be used to assess the long-term viability of wind propulsion as an energy-saving measure.
Hiroki Tsujii, ONE’s managing director, commented: “ONE is committed to minimising our environmental impact and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The trial with Econowind is an important step forward in our efforts to explore innovative and sustainable solutions for the maritime industry.”
ONE was established in 2017, integrating the liner operations of the three Japanese companies Kawaski Kisen Kaisha (“K” Line), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), and Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK). It operates in excess of 210 vessels on more than 170 services to 120 countries and ranks as the world’s sixth-largest container carrier with a fleet size of about 1.69 million TEU.
