ORIX Corporation (“ORIX”) and Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine&Engineering Co., Ltd. (“SHI-ME”, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.) announced that the two companies have begun a feasibility study of utilizing wind power for energy-saving operations on one of ORIX’s bulk carriers.
The feasibility study will utilize a wing-shaped soft sail (manufactured by NORTH SAILS JAPAN, “NSJ”) set on derrick post of its bulk carrier to obtain wind power as assisting power for the ship’s propulsion.
The soft sail used in this study is made of advanced polyethylene fiber fabric, dimensioned 8 meters in height and 13.2 meters in width and can be adjusted its attacking angle depending on the wind direction. By utilizing wind power as an auxiliary propulsive force, the aim is to reduce the consumption of heavy fuel oil which is being used as the primary fuel, and decrease CO2 emissions.
In this study, SHI-ME and NSJ will handle the design of the wind-assisted propulsion system, including the soft sail, as well as the analysis of operational data when the sail is in use. ORIX will be responsible for the installation of the soft sail and for measuring and collecting fuel efficiency data during operation. The energy-saving effects will be calculated as theoretical values based on the data obtained from this experiment.
In 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized United Nations agency, strengthened its greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets for international shipping to “achieve net-zero GHG emissions by around 2050,”* highlighting the urgency of reducing the environmental impact of maritime transport.
Through this feasibility study, ORIX and SHI-ME aim to improve the fuel efficiency of existing vessels, deepen their knowledge in utilizing the wind-assisted propulsion system powered by green energy, and advance efforts toward the practical application of this system.