MARIN initiates wind-assisted ships research project

Oct. 14, 2024
More ships are equipped with devices to capture wind to their advantage, and MARIN says good standard performance predictions are needed for the overall system of the ship with equipment.

Following the WiSP 1 and WiSP 2 joint industry projects, MARIN started WiSP 3 on Oct. 10.

This project will take two years to complete until April 2026. So far 33 participants have joined, and the first sea trials for validation are already scheduled.

The company said WiSP 3 will focus on the standardization of performance predictions of wind-assisted ships and updates on the regulatory framework, including EEDI, EEXI and CII. The project team aims to provide industry standards on the methods to predict fuel savings and emission reductions, enabling fair comparison. The project also will investigate effects of unsteady conditions on wind-assist devices and the propulsion train.

The JIP is initiated by MARIN, in cooperation with American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and International Wind Ship Association as well as a large number of WiSP 1 and WiSP 2 participants.

In the previous projects, the partners explored aerodynamic interactions, developed transparent performed prediction methods, and reviewed some rules and regulations. Some of the questions that arose are the subject of the new WiSP 3 research.