Wind assisted propulsion system for fuel saving

Abstract

Increasing fuel prices and strong environmental concerns have changed the landscape for the shipping industries. The changing, competitive environment has rekindled an interest in improving ship efficiency and performance sustainability. As MISC Berhad has a vision to become a world class player in the shipping industry, alternative ways have to be discovered for ensuring a competitive edge in the shipping business. Wind assisted ships are to be considered as an alternative way to reduce fuel consumption and damage to the environment. The aim of this study is to develop a wind assisted propulsion system and to assess its techno economic feasibility on a specific vessel and a selected route. Chemical carrier tankers from the MT Bunga Melati series were chosen and the routes selected were between the Middle East, Singapore and the Far East. For this study, actual data collected was for a period of more than two years. This data was taken from the daily noon reports of the ship master which are reports to his company on a daily basis during a ship’s voyage. The data consists of the main ship operational parameters as well as the wind speed and directions. A kite was designed and the propulsive forces developed in the voyages throughout the year were estimated. Finally, the economic assessment was carried out using payback period and Net Present Value criteria. The calculations showed a payback period of 10 years while Net Present Value was strongly positive indicating a profitable investment. The effect of using the kite on CO2 emission was determined using Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) and Energy Efficiency Operational Indicator (EEOI) developed by the International Maritime Organisation. Both indicators showed a positive reduction, indicating that the use of the kite is not only profitable economically but also improves the ship CO2 reduction performance.