Wind Challenger

[lastdingo]

Wind Challenger Project

"Wind Challenger" a Next Generation Bulk Carrier

As fuel prices continue to put a relentless burden on shipowners, the age of sail may be returning. A joint industry project launched in 2009 by the University of Tokyo...

gcaptain.com

They haven't kept their website up to date. They were supposed to do some more tests by 2017 - does anyone know of recent research papers or other info on the project?

After clearing these subjects during the 2015, the detail design of a real sail equipped ship will be finished in 2016. The service of the 1st ship will be aimed at in 2017

 

[Kevin Renner]

Projects like this were discussed in the 1970s.

 

[lastdingo]

www.marinepropulsors.com/proceedings/2013/11B.3.pdf

From the study of an example ship 180,000 DWT
Cape-Size Bulker who has 9 sails (total 9,000m2 sail
area), the energy save ratio is estimated more than 80%
in the condition of cross wind 12m/s, at the ship speed
14kt.
・The energy saving simulation in the actual voyage
(Yokohama/Seattle ) is carried out and it is found that
the fuel oil saving by 20～30％ is very possible.

So essentially it's a huge deal at slow cruising (even a bit slower than nowadays common slow cruising at ~ 18 kts), but not as important as the cleanliness (fuel type, emissions control) of the diesel engine if it's a mere supplemental propulsion.
The huge advantage compared to sail concepts like Dynarig is that it can be collapsed, and thus passing bridges or being in port under cranes isn't an issue.

Page Not Found | Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.

Introducing 'Page Not Found' of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL)

www.mol.co.jp

 

[Foo Fighter]

Nothing new under the sun then.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Coal carrier is fitted with a sail to cut emissions in a world first | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Coal carrier is fitted with a sail to cut emissions in a world first | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

ORIGINAL CAPTION: The Shofu Maru, a coal carrier equipped with the more than 50-meter-tall Wind Challenger hard sail at the bow (Provided by Tohoku Electric Power Co.)

 

[Nik]

Wind assisted designs and refits keep appearing at ,...

World Maritime News

www.offshore-energy.biz

Given scant margins for improving existing designs, tech such as bubble-mat hull lubrication, fancy prop hubs and wind-assist are seen as viable ways to finesse even a few additional percent productivity...

Ironically, nothing relevant today...
Note there's an 'open' news-tier, which I'm using, and a sign-up 'premium'.

 

[robunos]

Coal carrier is fitted with a sail to cut emissions in a world first | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Coal carrier is fitted with a sail to cut emissions in a world first | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

View attachment 687680
ORIGINAL CAPTION: The Shofu Maru, a coal carrier equipped with the more than 50-meter-tall Wind Challenger hard sail at the bow (Provided by Tohoku Electric Power Co.)

Oh, the irony . . .

cheers,
Robin.