Our Way 1
NEW WINDS, NEW DEMANDS Operating wind-powered ves
sels requires both theoretical and practical crew training. Oceanbird is now implementing an extensive training programme for the first vessel to set sail. The programme will later be used by Wallenius Marine for preparing other crews. wo full-scale wing sail prototypes are currently being built at Oceanbird’s test site in Landskrona, Sweden, and on the vessel Tirranna. The land-based prototype will be used for testing and optimizing the automation system as well as for crew training. “It’s important that the crew gain handson experience and develop a deeper understanding of this technology. This includes the construction, hydraulics and operational functionality—all components specific to wind propulsion. Although the sails are mostly automated, it’s important to understand why they behave the way they do. The test site in Landskrona plays a vital role in this,” says Martin Carlweitz, Design Manager Cargo Systems at Wallenius Marine. USING WIND PROPULSION alongside traditional technology introduces many new factors to consider when operating and manoeuvring the vessel. Wind conditions have to be taken into account in route planning, and engineers need to understand how automation regulates the movement of the wings. Additionally, it affects life onboard. According to Martin, stability is a concern for many, but calculations show that wind OUR WAY 1/2025 25