KCC Announces Its Newest Ship Would Use The World’s Biggest Ever Suction Sails

Image Credits: Klaveness Combination Carriers.

Klaveness Combination Carriers ASA (KCC) has partnered with Chinese companies Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding and Jiangsu Yangzi Xinfu Shipbuilding to construct a ship that will be fitted with a Wind Assisted Propulsion System having the world’s biggest suction sails.

KCC’s ship will be delivered in the latter half of 2026.

The suction sails for the ship will be supplied by Spanish company Bound4blue.

KCC stated that it decided to go with Bound4blue eSails since they were the most efficient, per a study conducted pertaining to alternative sailing technologies. It claimed to be the first shipowning company to install the biggest available eSail unit, the model 3.

The two suction sails with a height of 80 ft on the bow of the ship will enable it to channel the wind for generating a clean forward thrust, per the press release.

The sails use a fan system to drag air upon the surface of the sails to create propulsive efficiency which enables fuel savings from the main engine and also decreases pollution.

The use of suction sails is in line with the company’s goal of reducing carbon pollution number from 2018 by 45% by the end of the decade. The company has stated that it invested 32 million dollars in 15 technologies which will reduce its fleet’s carbon pollution and energy use by 15%.

KCC CEO Engebret Dahm said that this technology has a massive potential for decreasing carbon emissions and will help the industry in achieving its decarbonisation goals.

Bound4blue co-founder David Ferrer expressed his happiness in partnering with KCC as they are leading a ‘wind revolution’ in a key maritime segment.

Apart from KCC, other companies like Cargill and Oceanbird are also making similar efforts.

COSCO Shipping is also set to go electric in its fleet. Seawing has devised an automated kite system to harness the power of the wind and reduce pollution. Vela, a French company is developing a hundred percent wind-powered cargo vessel.

Shipping moves 90% of global trade and it is vital to cut down carbon emissions from the industry. Presently, it contributes to 3% of the world’s pollution and IMO has set aims to achieve net zero by 2050 which has propelled decarbonisation efforts in the maritime sector and use of green technologies.

References: MSN, The Cool Down

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