Cargill, one of the world’s largest charterers of bulk ships, has partnered with naval architect Deltamarin and engineering specialist BAR Technologies to develop wing sails that could be fitted to the decks of vessels to help reduce fuel usage and CO2 emissions.
The sails under consideration are wing sails made of solid composite material and, although standing as high as 45m (148ft), would be collapsible to navigate cranes or bridges.
The Minnesota-based company, which usually has some 600 vessels under charter at any one time, would like to have the first ship fitted with sails by 2022.
Report by Jim Shaw