{"id":236957,"date":"2025-06-17T19:00:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T09:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldcargonews.com\/?p=79125"},"modified":"2025-06-17T19:00:02","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T09:00:02","slug":"wingsail-flying-high-after-trials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=236957","title":{"rendered":"Wingsail flying high after trials"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sea trials have confirmed that Smart Green Shipping\u2019s FastRig and FastRoute technology is ready for commercial deployment. Smart Green Shipping (SGS) has successfully completed sea trials of its wind-assisted propulsion system, FastRig, and its performance modelling tool, FastRoute. The trials demonstrated the system\u2019s viability in real-world conditions, validating both its technical capabilities and operational advantages.<\/strong>
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The trials, carried out aboard the MV Pacific Grebe<\/em>, a specialised nuclear fuels cargo vessel, confirm that FastRig can be installed and removed rapidly quayside and operated safely within standard vessel routines. With these outcomes, SGS is preparing for commercial deployment and positioning wind propulsion as a credible decarbonisation solution for the shipping sector.<\/p>\n

FastRig proves quick to install, easy to remove<\/h2>\n

The eight-week test campaign saw FastRig installed, trialled and removed entirely dockside without disrupting commercial schedules or requiring extensive modifications to the ship\u2019s structure. SGS specifically chose a highly regulated vessel \u2014 the Pacific Grebe<\/em> \u2014 to demonstrate that even sensitive cargo operations can accommodate wind-assisted propulsion technology.<\/p>\n

Diane Gilpin, CEO at Smart Green Shipping<\/a>, said the trials addressed key concerns from shipowners: \u201cOur customers, collaborators and investors now have clear evidence that FastRig\u2019s lightweight, stowable design reduces the need for extensive deck reinforcement and eliminates reliance on active fans or rotors. This minimises onboard energy use while enabling fast installation and removal, whether quayside or during planned drydock.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Smart Green Shipping\u2019s CEO Diane Gilpin (SGS)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Independent validation strengthens the commercial case<\/h2>\n

WorldCargo News<\/em> was previously on board with trials and a port call at Greenock Clydeport<\/a>, back in November last year. What sets these trials apart is the method. SGS chartered the test vessel itself, giving it full access to performance data and allowing evaluation under International Towing Tank Conference (ITTC) standards \u2014 a benchmark for rigorous marine trials. The data was independently assessed by the University of Southampton and marine consultancy Houlder.<\/p>\n

Their findings verified the accuracy of SGS\u2019s FastRoute route-optimisation model and confirmed the potential for up to 40% annual fuel savings when FastRig is deployed effectively. With FastRoute\u2019s predictive modelling layered on top, the combined savings could increase by a factor of 1.5, according to the company.<\/p>\n

On-deck design suits operational and safety needs<\/h2>\n

FastRig features a small deck footprint, preserving cargo space and accommodating vessel-specific operations. Its radar-supported safety systems mitigate visibility concerns, and its stowable design ensures minimal disruption when not in use or during port manoeuvres.<\/p>\n

Operational simplicity has also been a design priority. FastRig is automated and uses standardised, commercially available parts configured in innovative ways \u2014 an approach that eases both crew workload and long-term maintenance demands.<\/p>\n

Scotland-built solution with global ambitions<\/h2>\n

FastRig is manufactured entirely in Scotland, with key components produced by 360Energy (formerly Caley Ocean Group) and Malin Group. SGS blends know-how from marine, offshore and renewable sectors to create a product it sees as a global export opportunity.<\/p>\n

The firm\u2019s backers include the government-backed Scottish Enterprise, which has co-invested alongside Japanese shipping giant MOL Drybulk, and renewable energy provider Drax, which recently contributed GB\u00a31 million in funding. SGS has also secured a GB\u00a31.8 million R&D grant. According to the company, these investments are building momentum for commercial installations in 2025.<\/p>\n

Wind\u2019s role in net-zero targets<\/h2>\n

Mark Gibbens, Head of Logistics at Drax, underlined wind propulsion\u2019s wider benefits. \u201cWind as an energy source is freely available, renewable, and with green technology providers like Smart Green Shipping capable of supporting shipping with its goal of Net Zero, while empowering cargo owners to reduce Scope 3 emissions in their own supply chains,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The UK Department for Transport estimates that 40,000 vessels worldwide could be viable candidates for wind-assisted propulsion. With uptake at a tipping point, according to Lloyd\u2019s Register, SGS is aiming to turn Scotland\u2019s wingsails into a standard option for sustainable shipping.<\/p>\n

The sea trials were delivered under the Winds of Change project<\/a>, part of the UK Government\u2019s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 3 (CMDC3). The full sea trial report is now available at SGS\u2019s website<\/a>. Smart Green Shipping says it is actively engaging industry partners to scale deployment of FastRig across global fleets. Their line is a promising future where clean wind is not just a heritage technology, but a vital part of tomorrow\u2019s decarbonised logistics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Smart Green Shipping (SGS) has successfully completed sea trials of its wind-assisted propulsion system, FastRig, and its performance modelling tool, FastRoute.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":79128,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17091,17092,17090,14115,17093,471,14116,12154,14119,17094,17095],"tags":[12159],"class_list":["post-236957","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-360energy","category-clean-maritime-demonstration-competition-round-3","category-conversion-innovation","category-fastrig","category-fastroute","category-news","category-pacific-grebe","category-shipping-logistics","category-smart-green-shipping","category-uk-department-for-transport","category-winds-of-change","tag-world-cargo-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/236957","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=236957"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/236957\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":237095,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/236957\/revisions\/237095"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=236957"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=236957"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=236957"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}