WISAMO inflatable wing sail system is being developed for a spread of vessel sorts.
An inflatable wing sail system developed by Michelin has marked a milestone. The sail has now been awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) by classification society DNV. This is the primary AiP to have been awarded to an inflatable wing sail design and is at the moment being put in for testing on the DNV classed MN Pélican.
Called WISAMO (WIng SAil MObility) the sail was first introduced in 2021 and is an inflatable, retractable, automated wing sail that may be put in on industrial vessels and leisure vessels. The sail is automated with a system developed by Michelin R&D and is retractable for entry into ports and beneath bridges.
The preliminary assessments of a WISAMO sail have been carried out on a crusing yacht. Now the system will probably be examined beneath industrial maritime navigation situations with a 100 sq. meter system that’s being put in on MN Pélican. The 155 meter lengthy, 8,600 DWT Compagnie Maritime Nantaise RO/RO cargo vessel, operates beneath constitution to Brittany Ferries and sails between Poole, U.Okay., and Bilbao, Spain.
“We are very pleased to receive this AIP for the WISAMO solution,” mentioned Gildas Quemeneur, initiative chief at Michelin. “It is a very important step forward the further development of this innovative solution to contribute to maritime transport decarbonization. We are now ready for the wing sail usage on the MN Pélican RO/RO that will allow experimental tests in heavy maritime conditions. All returns of experience will now contribute to build the larger WISAMO wing sail.”
“For the maritime industry to reach the ambitious decarbonization targets that have been set by regulators and increasing demanded by stakeholders, we need to look to enabling technologies that can boost vessel performance, reduce fuel use, and enhance sustainability,” mentioned Hasso Hoffmeister, senior principal engineer at DNV Maritime. “This is why we are seeing a growing interest in WAPS [wind assisted propulsion systems] for owners where the combination of compliance strategy, vessel type, and route offer potential benefits. However, as with every novel technology, acceptance and uptake can only grow from a foundation of trust, supported by rigorous, trusted and evolving technical standards. We are very pleased to award Michelin this AiP and look forward to working with them as the project progresses.”
The AiP has been awarded based mostly on DNV’s WAPS ST-0511 customary which supplies a framework for the verification and certification of wind help propulsion techniques. It may be utilized in acquiring an Approval in Principle, a Design Approval or a Type Approval. These verifications and certifications will also be obtained as a part of the combination right into a vessel or independently. The ST-0511 technical customary is a complement to the DNV WAPS class notation, which is focussed on the combination of techniques onboard vessels, whether or not retrofitted or as a part of a newbuilding.
