Wallenius Marine, together with KTH, RISE and AlfaWall Oceanbird, is launching a new research project to build knowledge on how vessels can be designed to better harness the potential of modern wind assisted propulsion systems (WAPS).
Wallenius believes that wind is once again set to become one of shipping’s most important sources of energy, and the new research is intended to accelerate this development. As industry looks for solutions to reduce emissions, interest in WAPS is growing. For Wallenius Marine, wind is not simply seen as a complement to the ships of the future, but a central part of tomorrow’s energy systems at sea.
To realise this ambition, the research project WinPrOVeDD (wind propulsion oriented vessel deck design) is now being launched. Supported by the Swedish Energy Agency, the project will investigate how vessel design affects the efficiency of wing sails and other WAPS. Previous research shows that conventional vessel designs can significantly limit performance, while a more aerodynamic design can deliver substantial efficiency gains.
Urban Lishajko, Head of Ship Design, Newbuilding and Innovation, Wallenius Marine, said: “We firmly believe that wind will once again become a primary source of energy for shipping. To make that possible, we need to consider the vessel and its propulsion system as a whole. We need to design the ships of the future around the wind, rather than simply adding wind technology to vessels developed for a fossil-fuel era.”
The research project will run from 2026 to 2029 and combine advanced simulations with wind tunnel testing to identify the vessel designs that can make the most effective use of wind energy. The results will be published openly as design guidelines that can be used by ship designers, shipyards and shipowners worldwide.
The project forms part of Wallenius Marine’s long-term efforts to establish wind as a central energy source for the future of shipping. For many years, the company has been a driving force in the development of wind-powered shipping through national and European research collaborations, as well as pioneering projects such as Orcelle Wind.
The aim is to generate new knowledge that will enable the development of vessels in which wind provides a significantly greater share of the energy required than it does today, thereby reducing dependence on fossil fuels and other fuels.
Lishajko added: “If shipping is to meet its climate targets, we need new ways of thinking about both energy and vessel design. Wind is a resource available every day across the world’s oceans. Our task is to find the best ways to harness it.”
Facts about WinPrOVeDD
- Project lead: Wallenius Marine
- Project partners: KTH, RISE and AlfaWall Oceanbird
- Project period: September 2026 to December 2029
- Total project budget: approximately SEK 9.4m, of which approximately SEK 5.6m is provided as research funding by the Swedish Energy Agency.
The project aims to provide open-access design guidelines for vessels optimised for WAPS.
Image: The project team during a discussion about wind-powered ships (credit: Wallenius Marine/Karin Röse)
