By: Sunita Somvanshi/Anisha Sharma
NBA Magritte
Photo Source- NYK Line
On July 8, 2024, NYK Bulkship (Atlantic), NV (Head Office: Antwerp, Belgium; “NBAtlantic”), a subsidiary of the NYK Group, installed its first wind-powered ship propulsion units on the NBA Magritte bulk carrier.
The NBA Magritte, which has two recently installed VentoFoil units under a long-term charter contract with Cargill (USA), is an innovative vessel.
Photo Source- Google
VentoFoils, which aim to improve access to the hatches for cargo loading and unloading operations, are a suction sail-type wind-assisted propulsion system that can be folded down for this purpose.
Technology developer Econowind states that its proprietary wind-assisted system, VentoFoil, can help reduce marine fuel consumption by 15% using a vertical ‘wing’ that converts wind into additional thrust.
These units were developed by Dutch-based company Econowind and are mounted on 20-foot-long flat rack containers with 16-meter vertical wings.
NBAtlantic, in partnership with Cargill International Inc. and NYK R&D subsidiary MTI Co., Ltd., will collect data on propulsion efficiency, meteorology, and sea conditions during the vessel’s voyage. This data will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of wind-assisted propulsion systems.
The installation at the port of Rotterdam and the subsequent voyage to Brazil mark the beginning of the NBA Magritte’s journey with this innovative technology.
Econowind reports that the system is automated and can be switched on and off via a touch panel on the bridge, minimizing the impact on crew workloads.
NYK Group’s business partner, MOL, has set a target to achieve over 80 wind propulsion installations in its fleet by 2035.
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