Smart Green Shipping, the U.K.-based company designs wind-power technology for commercial shipping, said March 14 it has commenced on-land testing of FastRig. This is an aluminum wingsail that harnesses wind power to deliver thrust to the ship, and which the company says can reduce shipping emissions by up to 30%.  

FastRig has been developed collaboratively with input from ship owners and cargo owners. The first FastRig has been raised today with the financial support of MOL Dry Bulk, Scottish Enterprise and private investors. Smart Green Shipping collaborated with naval architects Humphreys Yacht Design, and Argo Engineering was responsible for translating the design into practical, affordable construction engineering. FastRig will undergo its on-land tests at Hunterston PARC in Scotland before commencing on-ship trials later this year, Smart Green Shipping said. 

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“Over the past year, wind power has finally become a key part of the emission reduction conversation in the shipping industry as the need to decarbonize to remain compliant is embraced,” said Diane Gilpin, founder and CEO of Smart Green Shipping. “Wind is the obvious solution — it's abundant, freely and exclusively available to any ship equipped to harness it. Unlike other greening solutions, wind-assist saves money.”

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In 2018/19 a collaborative feasibility study that measured emissions saved by FastRigs on a panamax-size tanker on its usual route and normal operating speed predicted the wingsail would save up to 20% emissions per annum. This analysis was undertaken with the University of Southampton. The most recent FastRig design has been shown to reduce emissions by another 10%, the company said.