FIRST OCEANBIRD WING SAIL RETROFIT ON LCTC IN 2024

Oceanbird, the joint venture between Alfa Laval and Wallenius Lines, confirmed that they were planning to retrofit the first installation of the company’s new Oceanbird Wing 560 solution aboard a large car and truck carrier (LCTC), tween Alfa Laval and Wallenius Lines, con rmed that we allation solution rrier (LCTC), MV Tirranna, in 2024 e 7,620 ceu k, which is 26 nced that he achieve fuel ntic routes.

The installation is planned to occur when the 7,620 ceu LCTC enters its scheduled five-year dry dock, which is expected in the middle of 2024.

Speaking at a press event in London on 26 January, Oceanbird’s managing director, Niclas Dahl announced that he expected the wind-assisted propulsion solution to achieve fuel efficiency savings of 7-10% on favourable transatlantic routes.

The 150 ton, 40 metre high, 14 metre wide incorporates a main sail and a flap, allowing the wing to optimise the aerodynamic forces. “The solution will be effective sailing into headwinds at angles of up to 10 degrees,” Emil Kotz, Technical Manager, Oceanbird told The Motorship

As a result, the design of the wing sail will be able to produce propulsive forces while operating in a variety of wind directions.

Before the first installation on the vessel is completed, the test rig will undergo testing at a test location in 2023.

In parallel with the terrestrial testing, Oceanbird is expected to work with classification society DNV to obtain type approval for the wing sail’s design.

Oceanbird’s managing director, Niclas Dahl, confirmed that the 220-metre 7,000 ceu Orcelle Wind PCTC project was also on track, and that the vessel was expected to be completed by 2026 fixed wing he to on will be 10 be able to a of mpleted, the 023 ceanbird is V to obtain its e company he Sail pplicable olution was m that was g sail, Kotz ally suitable l constraint, a horizontal e efor

The first retrofit installation of the wing sail is expected to act as a significant boost for Oceanbird towards bringing its Oceanbird wind power technology to market. The company is also likely to consider offering the solution, as the Wing Sail retrofit solution was expected to be equally applicable to other large vessels, such as tankers and bulkers.

A particular competitive advantage of the solution was expected to be the folding deployment system that was being integrated into the design of the wing sail, Kotz mentioned. This would make the solution potentially suitable for operators for whom air draft was an operational constraint, and would also allow the solution to be placed in a horizontal position during adverse weather conditions. The Motorship notes that this will also make the solution suitable for vessels in the bulker segment that require complex cargo operations.

The company announced in early January that a consortium of 11 partners had received a grant of EUR9 million from the EU’s Horizon fund, as a contribution towards the cost of launching the first wind-powered PCTC, Orcelle Wind. The consortium has a strong Swedish representation, and includes a number of research and academic partners that participated in a three year research project funded by the Swedish government that concluded in 2022.

Oceanbird’s managing director, Niclas Dahl, confirmed that the 220-metre 7,000 ceu Orcelle Wind PCTC project was also on track, and that the vessel was expected to be completed by 2026.

Oceanbird’s 150 ton, 40 metre high, 14 metre wide fixed wing incorporates a main sail and a flap, allowing the wing to optimise the aerodynamic forces

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