Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) has made history by becoming the first nuclear transport operator to install and test cutting-edge sail technology on its specialist vessels.
The initiative, which is being undertaken in partnership with the maritime technology company Smart Green Shipping (SGS), seeks to greatly reduce fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions from its nuclear cargo ships.
The project involves equipping NTS’s Pacific Grebe, a ship built especially to transport nuclear materials, with SGS’s FastRig wing sail system.
With a full-scale deployment, the FastRig technology could save fuel use and CO2 emissions by up to 30% by using wind power to propel the ship.
The retractable wing sail uses sensors to automatically adjust to changing weather conditions, assuring maximum efficiency and safety.
Video Credits: Sky News/YouTube
This is the first time such a technology has been installed on a nuclear transport vessel. The trial is crucial in the industry’s shift to cleaner, greener shipping technologies.
NTS CEO Seth Kybird says the initiative reaffirms the company’s commitment to sustainability while maintaining the highest safety standards in nuclear transportation. He said the collaboration with SGS reflects NTS’s goal of pioneering green technology in the maritime sector.
Pete Buchan, Managing Director of Shipping at NTS, said that, while the project is still in the testing phase, the wing sail has the potential to drastically reduce emissions and fuel use in the shipping industry. He was confident about the trial’s positive impact.
Diane Gilpin, CEO of Smart Green Shipping, claimed that the trial provides an opportunity to gather valuable, real-world data to strengthen existing research. She praised NTS for taking the initiative to implement new technology that meets strict safety standards.
The Pacific Grebe has already left Barrow-in-Furness to begin sea trials, which will continue throughout the month. The results of these tests will be essential in determining the future of nuclear transport ships propelled by sails.
Reference: Nuclear Transport Solutions
World’s First Nuclear Ship With Revolutionary Sail Technology Begins Sea Trials appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide
Source: Maritime Shipping News