Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) has become the first nuclear transport operator in the world to install and trial Smart Green Shipping’s (SGS) FastRig wing sail on its vessels.
Installation of the wing sail was done on one of NTS vessels, the Pacific Grebe, a purpose-built ship designed to safely carry nuclear cargo around the world. This collaboration marks the first time a system like this has been installed on a specialist ship of this kind.
The solution uses wind power to help propel the ship, which could, NTS believes, potentially reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 30% on a full commercial installation.
The FastRig wing sail is a retractable solution which uses specialist sensors and automated technology to adapt to changing weather conditions, allowing it to deploy and retract as necessary. The ship has left its home port of Barrow-in-Furness and will be running sea trials this month.
“The addition of the FastRig system aligns with our goals for sustainable operations and demonstrates our commitment to pioneering green technologies in the maritime sector,” said Seth Kybird, NTS CEO.
“While this is still a trial at this stage, it’s the first real-world application of this wing and could change the way all ships sail, drastically reducing emissions and fuel usage across the industry. We’re proud of the role we’ve had in this project and can’t wait to see the final results of the trial,” added Pete Buchan, NTS’s managing director of shipping.