Jumbo installs ‘first’ wind-assisted propulsion systems on heavy lift vessel

October 7, 2024, by Naida Hakirevic Prevljak

Dutch heavy-lift shipping and offshore transport company Jumbo has completed the installation of two mechanical sails onboard its 13,000 dwt heavy lift cargo vessel Jumbo Jubilee.

The systems were provided by Dutch wind-assisted ship propulsion (WASP) system specialist Econowind.

According to Econowind, the 2009-built Jumbo Jubilee is now “the first geared vessel” equipped with WASP following the VentoFoil installation.

Jumbo is committed to advancing sustainable heavy-lift shipping with innovative energy-saving and decarbonization initiatives across its fleet, according to Daan Kornneef, CEO of Jumbo Maritime.

“The installation of these mechanical sails on Jumbo Jubilee is a testament to our commitment to decarbonise and innovate. While there’s always more work to be done, initiatives like this propel us closer to a greener maritime industry,” Kornneef said.

As explained, the company’s approach is to apply multiple fuel-saving solutions to a single vessel, thereby making possible the measurement of each technology’s contribution to the overall picture. Examples already applied to Jumbo Jubilee include an efficiency boosting propeller coating, AI powered anti-fouling monitoring system and an eco-control system. This latest move, the installation of two Econowind VentoFoils, will assess the impact of WASP on the vessel’s efficiency.

“While not fully optimised for our vessel type, these sails will help us to gather valuable insights on real-world fuel savings and explore further optimisations that will allow Jumbo to reduce its environmental footprint even more,” Andres Cassanova, Jumbo Technical Manager, commented.

The relatively small footprint of the sails makes them an ideal solution for installation on a heavy lift vessel, where space is required for project cargoes. Additionally, the sails are flexibly mounted on a customized frame engineered in-house by Jumbo structural engineer Estelle Bongers. With this, the sails can be moved, or even transferred to another vessel should additional space be required for cargo.

The installation of the VentoFoils follows application of an anti-fouling coating on the ship’s propeller to maintain efficiency, as well as the introduction of an AI-powered anti-fouling hull coating monitoring system.

Specifically, the system captures a wide range of data including vessel speed, geographical position, as well as sea water temperature and other environmental conditions and parameters. This allows the system to make predictions and provide notifications when there is a risk of accelerated fouling.

The system can be maintained using less aggressive methods, ensuring its preservation for longer durations between dockings.

A further measure is the installation of an eco-control system to the vessel.

“This can be viewed as a type of intelligent cruise control,” explained Cassanova.

“It allows us to set a fuel consumption or maximum speed limit. With this, the eco-control system takes over and, based on RPM and propeller pitch, is continually adjusting to ensure optimally efficient performance, minimal fuel consumption and emissions.”

With these significant technologies installed on the Jumbo Jubilee, Jumbo expects to achieve fuel savings. A crucial factor in this, as Technical Superintendent Patrick Feddes pointed out, is collaboration.

“If you want to reduce your environmental footprint, it’s not only down to one part of the company. It’s a team effort between those on board the ships and those on shore. The technologies play an important supporting role in creating energy savings, but a significant factor is awareness and cooperation throughout the various departments of the organisation,” Feddes highlighted.