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TRIMIS

Advanced sails to reduce environmental impact and OPEX of maritime transport

Project

bound4blue - Advanced sails to reduce environmental impact and OPEX of maritime transport


Funding origin:
European
European Union
STRIA Roadmaps:
Vehicle design and manufacturing (VDM)
Vehicle design and manufacturing
Transport mode:
Waterborne
Waterborne
Transport sectors:
Passenger transport
Passenger transport
Freight transport
Freight transport
Project website:
Duration:
Start date: 01/03/2022,
End date: 29/02/2024

Status: Finished
Funding details:
Total cost:
€3 424 003
EU Contribution:
€2 396 802

Overview

Background & policy context:

Maritime transport drives global trade but also contributes to environmental pollution. The EU-funded bound4blue project proposes a highly innovative aeronautics-based wingsail. It uses the wind as a renewable energy source for propulsion to reduce more than 30 % of the fuel used in maritime transport (merchant vessels, fishing vessels, passenger vessels, etc.). It also complies with the new International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulations and the European Green Deal goals. The project proposes two patented types: a foldable wingsail that is more suitable for vessels with space and manoeuvrability restrictions and a suction-based wingsail (eSAIL), more affordable for smaller vessels.

Objectives:

b4b has patented and developed a highly novel wingsail based on aeronautics which, making use of the wind as renewable energy source for propulsion, reduces up to 30% of the fuel used in maritime transport (merchant vessels, fishing vessels, passenger vessels, etc.), reducing operating costs and the environmental impact of the maritime industry, also complying with new International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulations and the European Green Deal goals. So far, the company has two patented different type of wingsails: a foldable wingsail more suitable for vessels with space and maneuverability restrictions; and a suction-based wingsail (eSAIL), suitable for vessels with no restrictions and also more affordable for smaller vessels, like fishing vessels.

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