Smart Green Shipping: On-land testing of FastRig kicks off

March 18, 2024, by Naida Hakirevic Prevljak

UK systems design house Smart Green Shipping has commenced on-land testing of FastRig, a wingsail that harnesses wind power to deliver thrust to the ship and can reduce shipping emissions by up to 30%.

The aluminium wingsail, which is recyclable, retractable and autonomous, has been developed collaboratively with input from ship owners and cargo owners. The first FastRig was raised on March 14 with the financial support of MOL Dry Bulk, Scottish Enterprise and private investors.

Smart Green Shipping collaborated with naval architects Humphreys Yacht Design which developed the design of FastRig. Argo Engineering was responsible for translating the design into practical, affordable construction engineering.

FastRig will undergo its on-land tests at Hunterston PARC in Scotland before commencing on-ship trials later this year.

“Over the past year, wind power has finally become a key part of the emission reduction conversation in the shipping industry as the need to decarbonise to remain compliant is embraced. Wind is the obvious solution – it’s abundant, freely and exclusively available to any ship equipped to harness it. Unlike other greening solutions, wind-assist saves money,” Diane Gilpin, founder and CEO of Smart Green Shipping, said.

“This next phase for FastRig, where it undergoes extensive on-land testing, is crucial to not only ensure its safety and reliability, but allows seafarers and shipowners the chance to actually get up close, give it a go and feed in to our ongoing design development.”

“Seeing this 20 metre test and demonstration FastRig raised for the first time represents the culmination of a lot of hard work across the entire shipping ecosystem, and I couldn’t be prouder of the whole ‘Winds of Change’ community who have supported us on our journey. But this is just the beginning: we’re developing larger FastRigs, integrated weather routing software and frictionless wind-as-a-service offerings for our customers,” Diane added.

According to the company, FastRigs are extremely lightweight which makes them quick and easy to install and uninstall, they don’t need invasive retrofit procedures that steal space from cargo holds and reduce payloads. They retract in light winds to avoid creating additional wind resistance that would require more engine power, meaning they require less fuel. The wing sails also retract in heavy weather to improve safety, to manoeuvre in and out of ports, navigate under bridges and when loading and discharging cargoes. Digitally-enabled FastRigs ‘know’ when they have to get out of the way.

In 2018/19 a collaborative feasibility study that measured emissions saved by FastRigs on a Panamax on its usual route and normal operating speed predicted the wingsail would save up to 20% emissions per annum. This analysis was undertaken with the University of Southampton. The most recent FastRig design has been shown to reduce emissions by another 10%.

The next few months will see Smart Green Shipping perform on-land testing of the rig to assess key safety, operational, technical and mechanical systems, in collaboration with project partners.

From April onwards, Smart Green Shipping will be hosting visitors at the test site in Hunterston, Scotland, to see FastRig in action.