SSPA has introduced a new business segment focused on marine wind power.
The new ‘Wind-Powered Ships’ team of consultants and naval architects will support the industry with independent guidance and assessment.
The decision comes amid rapidly growing demand for emissions-free propulsion. Brazilian company Vale recently had rotor sails installed on Sea Zhoushan, one of the largest ships in the world. “SSPA was a key player in investigating different wind propulsion systems – their advantages, disadvantages and expected savings leading up to our decision to invest,” said Rodrigo Bermelho, shipping technical manager at Vale.
Modern wind propulsion technologies have little in common with the canvas sails of old and range from ‘Flettner-rotors’ over kites and suction sails to rigid sails that resemble vertical aircraft wings.
To develop and promote these increasingly complex designs, SSPA offers a range of services including business case and decision support, early stage EEXI and CII calculations, third party evaluations, voyage and routing simulations, sea trials and performance monitoring, risk assessments, and crew training.
