»Windship Day 2024« – Wind propulsion in shipping is becoming increasingly popular (ee-news.ch)

(IWES) Setting sail for more sustainable, climate-friendly shipping – this was the motto of Windship Day 2024, which was held on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, on board the four-masted barque “Peking” in Hamburg’s Hansahafen. The event was hosted by the Fraunhofer Working Group Sustainable Maritime Mobility (under the joint leadership of the Emden/Leer University of Applied Sciences and the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES), Mariko GmbH, the GreenShipping Lower Saxony Competence Center, the International Windship Association and the German Port Museum “Peking” on their exhibition grounds.

At the all-day, fully booked event in the cargo hold of the historic cargo sailing ship with 100 participants from the global shipping industry, various aspects of the increasing use of wind propulsion technologies were discussed. The thematic focus of the lecture program was not only political and regulatory framework conditions, but also the latest findings from research and development as well as insights from the practice of maritime engineering firms and providers of wind propulsion technologies. The various lectures and discussions repeatedly highlighted the enormous potential of innovative wind propulsion technologies for more climate-friendly shipping due to the freely available amounts of wind in many shipping areas and the associated savings potential.

VIncreased promotion, development and use of sustainable technologies
The event was marked by high-profile speakers from politics, research, shipping and the maritime economy. In addition to professional sailor Boris Herrmann, who outlined his vision of the future of numerous sailing cargo ships on the world’s oceans in an inspiring video contribution, Dieter Janecek, the German Federal Government’s Coordinator for Maritime Economy and Tourism, also took part in Windship Day 2024. During a panel discussion, the member of the Bundestag spoke out in favor of increased promotion, development and use of sustainable technologies: “I welcome events such as Windship Day because a move away from fossil fuels towards alternative energy sources and innovative propulsion systems in shipping is essential so that we can achieve the important climate protection goals.”

This message was received favorably by Katja Baumann (Managing Director of Mariko GmbH): “The visit of Mr. Janecek and other important personalities in the maritime industry shows the relevance of the topic and our event. I hope that the development and use of wind propulsion technologies will also receive appropriate recognition and support in the National Action Plan for Climate-Friendly Shipping, which is currently being drawn up.”

40 new installations of wind propulsion technologies
Fortunately, the use of sailing technologies on the path to sustainable maritime mobility is already clearly on the rise internationally and is making continuous progress. Numerous new construction and retrofit projects are currently being announced worldwide. Gavin Allwright (Secretary General of the International Windship Association) gave a detailed insight into this in his presentation: “Wind propulsion technologies are neither yesterday nor tomorrow – now is the time for shipping to use wind energy as a fuel for maritime decarbonization. And we can see this in the numbers, as last year alone there were more than 40 new installations of wind propulsion technologies on commercial ships and our forecasts predict around 10,000 ships worldwide with installed wind (additional) propulsion by 2030 and up to 40,000 ships by 2050.”

»Climate-friendly shipping made in Germany”
One of the windships already in use is the multi-purpose sailing vessel “Juren Ae”, which was designed and built for the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific. A research group from the Emden/Leer University of Applied Sciences led by Captain Michael Vahs presented the associated design and construction process, as the “Juren Ae” is “climate-friendly shipping made in Germany”. Vahs and his team presented important design factors and initial results of sea trials and expressed the wish for more examples of windships to be realized in German shipping: “Unfortunately, there is still reluctance and skepticism with regard to the use of wind propulsion technologies, despite proven fuel-saving potential and marketable ship concepts.”

TActual performance of wind propulsion technologies
The actual performance of wind propulsion technologies such as Flettner rotors was the focus of the presentation by a research team led by Prof. Jann Strybny (also from Emden/Leer University of Applied Sciences), who, together with Michael Vahs, is responsible for the scientific management of the Fraunhofer Sustainable Maritime Mobility working group. Part of the team’s development work is an extensive and ongoing field measurement campaign carried out by Fraunhofer IWES. In addition, Jann Strybny and his team outlined methodological approaches and referred to the state-of-the-art research facilities at the Leer Maritime Campus: “In Leer, research and development for sustainable shipping is being driven forward. With our expertise in maritime hydrodynamics and aerodynamics, automation and systems technology, and materials technology, we focus in particular on wind propulsion systems, design concepts and scientific studies for emission-free shipping.”

Since Weeks fully booked
Overall, the Windship Day 2024, which has been fully booked for weeks, was a more than successful event with a wide range of topics and numerous experts from the international shipping industry. The participants agreed that, against the backdrop of maritime climate protection and rising energy prices, innovative drive alternatives are needed and that wind propulsion technologies are an important building block on the way to climate-neutral shipping. The hosts of the German Port Museum and their board member Hans-Jörg Czech are also satisfied: “We are delighted with the great interest in Windship Day on the Peking and hope that the topics and ideas discussed in this inspiring environment will contribute to achieving the climate protection goals in shipping.”

Detailed legend picture top left
Panel discussion on board the Peking at Windship Day 2024 with (from left to right) Jann Strybny (Emden/Leer University of Applied Sciences & Fraunhofer IWES), Torsten Conradi (judel/vrolijk & co), Dieter Janecek (Federal Government Coordinator for Maritime Economy and Tourism), Wolfgang Franzelius (HB Hunte Engineering GmbH), Gavin Allwright (International Windship Association) and Michael Vahs (Emden/Leer University of Applied Sciences & Fraunhofer IWES).

Text: Fraunhofer IWES

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