Scottish sail deployed for testing on UK nuclear waste transporter
Built in 2010, Pacific Grebe is one of three specialized ships used to transport nuclear materials for Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS), part of the UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. The 104m-long vessel carries nuclear waste to Japan for decommissioning in its four specialised cargo holds.
The ship recently left its home port of Barrow-in-Furness to begin sea trials with the 65ft-high FastRig sail. Made entirely from recyclable materials, the sail aims to reduce fuel consumption by up to 30%. The system, which uses an autonomous, adaptive design, can be retracted for port operations.
The trials will provide real-world data to validate earlier digital models and tank tests conducted with the University of Southampton. The initiative aligns with the maritime industry’s push towards sustainable practices, backed by USD 2.6 million in funding from Drax, a UK power generation business, and a UK Clean Maritime grant.
“While this is still a trial at this stage, it’s the first real-world application of this wing and could change the way all ships sail, drastically reducing emissions and fuel usage across the industry,” said Pete Buchan, NTS’s managing director of shipping. “We’re really proud of the role we’ve had in this project and can’t wait to see the final results of the trial.”