Shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen has announced its plans to build a full-size wind-powered pure car and truck carrier, named Orcelle Wind, that will be capable of achieving up to 90% reduced emissions compared to contemporary vessels.
The company said that the design of the vessel will be ready for contracting with a shipyard by mid-2022 with the vessel expected to set sail by 2025, subject to a detailed feasibility evaluation.
Orcelle Wind will be tested to see if it complies with the mandatory regulatory standards, relating to safety and technical performance.
Operational needs of the vessel will also be checked such as the aptness for deployment on several global trade lanes and the ability to manoeuvre in bad weather in port.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen CEO Craig Jasienski said: “Since 2008, we have been able to reduce CO? intensity by 33%, which is a significant step. But the journey towards zero emissions requires great strides forward. We believe Orcelle Wind is one of them.
“It will take the dedicated collaboration of our world-class customers, partners, and employees to make such a bold initiative as Orcelle Wind succeed. More than just evaluating the concept, we are committed to making this a success.”
Once built, Orcelle Wind will have the capacity to transmit approximately 7,000 vehicles at speeds of 10k-12k under sail. With a length of 220m and a beam width of 40m, the wind-powered vessel will also be able to carry heavy machinery, breakbulk cargo, and cars.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen shipping services EVP and COO Erik Noeklebye said: “Orcelle Wind will be our technical and operational testbed for zero-emission innovation, where we can assess and develop various zero-emission fuels and technology.”
