Anemoi Marine Technologies, the UK's leading developer of wind-assisted ship propulsion systems, proposes to develop two disruptive new technologies with the potential to vastly increase Anemoi's market share.
The first is a next generation folding system which will enable mass adoption of Rotor Sails on Kamsarmax and Panamax bulk carriers. The next is to develop aerodynamic enhancements which will significantly increase fuel savings.
In this 7 month project, Anemoi will develop a detailed design, build and test a prototype of the new folding system for their 3.5m Rotor Sail , an industry-first for Rotor Sails in this size category, which allows the Rotors to be lowered during port operations. The new concept will bring significant cost reductions for the target vessels compared to the 3.5m rail deployment system currently offered. The design also incorporates several innovative concepts which improve functionality and performance compared to Anemoi's first-generation folding design used on their 5m Rotor Sails. The test rig will be manufactured by Pressure Design Hydraulics Engineers and tested at their South Yorkshire facility.
To develop the aerodynamic enhancements, Anemoi will partner with world experts in maritime Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Cape Horn Engineering. The new product is expected to improve the aerodynamic performance of wind-assisted vessels, providing increased fuel savings and emissions reductions compared to Anemoi's current state-of-the-art Rotor Sails, already a world-leading solution.
In addition to these design and prototyping activities, market research and a port and vessel integration study will be undertaken, leveraging the industry contacts and expertise of Connected Places Catapult. Victoria Steamship will contribute valuable insights from a UK based shipbroker with 9 vessels operating globally in their roster which are in the primary market for the folding system and aerodynamically enhanced Rotor Sails. Regulatory considerations will be explored using the framework developed on CMDC4 to derisk future vessel installation.
The project presents the opportunity for the development of Intellectual Property which could dominate the wind-assisted ship propulsion industry and help Anemoi become the world's leading Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion provider.
This project aims to revolutionise wind propulsion technology by developing a novel 24.5-meter tall, 3.5-meter diameter Rotor Sail design tailored for vessels predominantly operating in UK, European, and North Atlantic waters. Our innovative design incorporates advanced features aimed at optimising Rotor Sail performance and cost effectiveness.
To bolster confidence in the seamless integration of these innovative Rotor Sails onto vessels, we will develop and build a full-scale demonstrator in the UK. This platform will serve as a rigorous test bed to comprehensively assess and mitigate risks associated with innovative design elements, particularly the internal mechanical components. Rigorous testing will subject the new designs to high loads and rotational speeds, with comprehensive thermal and dynamic instrumentation providing critical data for thorough performance analysis. Experts at Frazer Nash Consultancy will conduct dynamic analyses throughout the design phase, allowing us to compare the demonstrator's measured performance with that of the final Rotor Sail design.
Over the course of this 12-month project, we will design, manufacture and test the demonstrator, and produce a complete design for a 3.5-meter Rotor Sail ready for production in the UK to exploit the market for wind propulsion on vessels sailing on the European and North Atlantic routes.
Our project also encompasses a desk-based certification process involving two representative vessels within our target local market, both incorporating the new 3.5-meter Rotor Sail. This initiative, led by Stehr Consulting Ltd and Lloyds Register, leverages their extensive combined regulatory expertise, considering both Flag State and Class perspectives. Additionally, UK-based vessel operator Victoria Steamship will offer invaluable insights and vessel specifications, serving as both a product end-user and a potential facilitator for trials on one of their bulk carriers.
To gain a deeper understanding of the market landscape, Connected Places Catapult will undertake comprehensive market research to quantify the UK, European and transatlantic market potential for the new Rotor Sail. Furthermore, with technical support from Frazer-Nash, they will conduct supply chain research to identify specific UK companies with the requisite capabilities and infrastructure for manufacturing, assembly, and commissioning of Rotor Sails and installation onto vessels. Their study will also explore the combination of Rotor Sails and future fuels, providing critical evidence of Rotor Sail technology's pivotal role in enabling net-zero shipping without compromising productivity.