Cargo ship with wind-powered sail arrives in Southampton

Scientists at the University of Southampton are experimenting with a new, wind powered wing-sail.

The 20-metre, retractable sail can be fitted to various vessels in the future and has recently been retrofitted on the Pacific Grebe.

The 5,000-tonne cargo vessel will be assessed in the Solent under controlled trials to test the ship’s performance in different conditions.

Di Gilpin, the chief executive of Smart Green Shipping which developed the wing-sail, said she started thinking about using wind on ships in 1998.

This was after a career at Formula One and in yacht racing.

Di Gilpin, the chief executive of Smart Green Shipping (Image: Newsquest) She said: “We need alternative fuels to support global shipping's transition to zero-emissions, but quality, energy density, availability and cost of these fuels is unknown.

“There is a simple solution – and that’s wind. 

“The sail on the ship will be subject to a whole month of trials.

“But this is not a typical ship we would be installing the sail on; we will be looking at dry bulkers and tankers.

“These types of ships carry commodities such as wood, pellets, liquids, fossil fuels, and more.

“These ships have a flat deck, so by installing the sail on a vessel like that means you can harness the wind.”

Professor Damon Teagle, director of the university’s Marine and Maritime Institute, said the creation and installation of the wing-sail is the beginning of reducing carbon emissions.

He said: “Ships use a lot of energy and are sailing for a long time, so this sail is not going to completely solve the problem of carbon emissions, but it will make a start.

“This is a big step forward and is very real and exciting.

“It will make a big difference.”

The Pacific Grebe docked with her new wind-sail raised (Image: University of Southampton) Pacific Grebe left Glasgow to head to Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria earlier on in the week, before arriving at Empress Dock’s Berth 27 in Southampton.

The cargo ship can be seen from the National Oceanography Centre, where researchers and students from the University of Southampton could see and learn about the sail.

Dr Joseph Banks, from the university’s Marine and Maritime Institute, said: “The wing sail pushes the ship forward by using the wind.

“In turn, this reduces the thrust from propellors and reduces fuel, power, and emissions from the ship’s engine.

“We have already made our predictions for the sail, and the trials will see if our predications are correct.

“Shipping accounts for three per cent of CO2 emissions. Installing the sail could cut fuel consumption and emissions, and work towards the industry being net-zero by 2050.”

The Government, which provided funding for the project, estimates that up to 40,000 ships could use wind power, according to the university.