SIMIC

A GROUNDBREAKING technological design aimed at powering 21st-century cargo sailing ships has garnered support from a prominent global maritime organization, reports Abu Dhabi's National News.

Oceanbird is pioneering a wing sail concept that harnesses aerodynamic forces akin to those keeping aircraft aloft to propel ships, as part of a broader effort to reduce carbon emissions in the global shipping industry.



The Swedish company has recently secured an "Approval in Principle" from DNV, the world's largest ship classification society.



This approval establishes construction and safety standards, laying the groundwork for installing a prototype wing sail on a ship.



DNV's endorsement of Oceanbird's design comes when competition intensifies to tap into the market for wind-powered vessels, following the United Nations' International Maritime Organisation's commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from the world's cargo shipping.



While the WindWings sails retrofitted to the cargo ship Pyxis Ocean, designed and developed by UK-based BAR Technologies, enhance propulsion and fuel efficiency, Oceanbird envisions a ship that is 90 per cent wind powered, capable of sailing at angles as low as five degrees into the wind.



Oceanbird's managing director Niclas Dahl expressed enthusiasm over achieving Approval in Principle within a year and a half, describing it as an "amazing" feat.



Approval, in principle, represents an independent evaluation of a concept, confirming its feasibility and indicating that there are no significant obstacles preventing the concept from becoming a reality.



DNV assessed the wing's capacity to withstand extreme conditions, including heavy wind loads, snow and ice loads, waves on deck, and its control systems.