“Jumbo Jubilee” with sailing technology on board (© Jumbo)
The Dutch shipping company Jumbo – alliance partner of SAL from Germany – is relying on wind propulsion support for one of its heavylift ships. The heavy-lift freighter is increasingly becoming a mobile experimental laboratory.
Two mechanical sail components from Econowind have now been installed on the heavy lift ship “Jumbo Jubilee”.[ds_preview]
The Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion (WASP) solution is described by Jumbo as “the latest in a series of innovative technologies” installed on the ship to increase fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.
CEO Daan Kornneef said: “At Jumbo we believe that every step towards sustainability is crucial. The installation of these mechanical sails on the Jumbo Jubilee is a testament to our commitment to decarbonization and innovation. While there is still more to do, initiatives like this bring us closer to a greener shipping industry.”
Jumbo wants to use sail components flexibly
The shipping company’s approach is to apply multiple fuel-saving solutions to a ship, measuring the contribution of each technology to the bigger picture. Examples that have already been applied to Jumbo Jubilee include an efficiency-enhancing propeller coating, an AI-powered anti-fouling monitoring system and an eco-control system. The latest measure, the installation of two Econowind fans, is intended to assess the impact of WASP on the vessel’s efficiency.
Jumbo’s technical manager, Andres Cassanova, explained: “Although these sails are not fully optimized for our type of vessel, they will help us gain valuable insights into real-world fuel savings.”
The relatively small footprint of the sails makes them “an ideal solution” for installation on a heavy-lift vessel where space is needed for project cargo, the shipping company continued. In addition, the sails are flexibly mounted on a frame developed by Jumbo structural engineer Estelle Bongers. This allows the sails to be moved or transferred to another vessel if additional space is needed for cargo.
The installation of the ventofoils followed the application of an anti-fouling coating to the ship’s propeller to maintain efficiency, as well as the introduction of an AI-powered system to monitor the anti-fouling coating on the ship’s hull.
