Michelin’s WISAMO wing sail system gets DNV nod

French tyre company Michelin’s WISAMO wing sail system has received approval from the classification society DNV.

PHOTO: DNV’s key account manager Davis Bertrand, WISAMO’s chief executive Gildas Quemeneur and Maritime Nantaise’s technical manager Edouard Leveau at the approval presentation (from left to right). DNV

Wing sails are wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS) that use aerodynamic principles to produce lift and reduce drag.

The WISAMO sail is an automated retractable inflatable wing sail system that can be installed on both commercial vessels and pleasure crafts. It is currently being installed on French shipping firm Compagnie Maritime Nantaise’s roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessel MN Pélican for testing.

The vessel travels between Poole, England and Bilbao, Spain under charter to Brittany Ferries. Prior to this, the wing sail was tested on a sailing yacht.

The test will help the company gain valuable experience that can be used to improve and scale up the wing sail.

“It is a very important step forward the further development of this innovative solution to contribute to maritime transport decarbonization,” said Michelin’s initiative leader Gildas Quemeneur.

The company claims that the system can improve a vessel’s fuel efficiency by up to 20%.

DNV has been “seeing a growing interest in WAPS” as shipowners look for “technologies that can boost vessel performance, reduce fuel use, and enhance sustainability” according to DNV Maritime’s senior principal engineer Hasso Hoffmeister.

By Tuhin Roy

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