Massive wind-powered cargo vessel transports Europe's largest rocket
Canopée, a wind-powered cargo ship, is transporting the components of Ariane 6, Europe's largest rocket, across the Atlantic With massive sails and diesel engines, this tailor-made vessel embraces the winds of change
The Canopée cargo ship is uniquely designed with four sails that soar 121 feet (37 meters) above its main deck, giving it a striking appearance. These sails cover nearly 16,000 square feet (1,486 square meters) and provide a significant speed boost of the 3,150-ton ship in favorable wind conditions.
Canopées primary source of power is still two diesel engines, but it offers a peek into the future of shipping. Its sails, known as "Oceanwings" due to their resemblance to aircraft wings when fully deployed, have the potential to reduce fuel consumption by half. According to Nils Joyeux, managing director of Alizés, the French company operating the ship, under optimal wind conditions, fuel savings could reach up to 50-60%, and even as low as 10-15% in some cases. While the average projected fuel savings currently stand at around 30%, a few more years of operation are needed to confirm this estimate.
The ship was specifically designed to transport Ariane 6, the latest and largest space rocket in Europe, set for launch in mid-2024. The rocket components, built in facilities across Europe, must be transported to the European Space Agency's spaceport in French Guiana, an overseas territory of France in the northeastern region of South America.
Canopée successfully crossed the Atlantic with its sails unfurled and transported rocket components in early November, marking the beginning of the last phase in the Ariane 6 program's development.
An artist's impression of Ariane 6 in flight.
ESA
Tailor-made
Approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to shipping, which handles approximately 90% of the world's goods. Recently, the International Maritime Organization, the UN's regulatory body for shipping, has bolstered its climate targets. It now aims to achieve net zero emissions by around 2050, with a minimum 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2008 levels.
In addition to cleaner fuels like green ammonia, wind propulsion could be a key asset in achieving these goals. "We are completely convinced that wind energy will become increasingly competitive in the years to come," says Joyeux. "It's not the complete solution for decarbonizing the shipping industry, but it's a crucial element that we can no longer ignore. When we first started considering putting sails back on cargo ships 10 years ago, it was a bit of a gamble. But today, as many shipping companies are planning to do the same, it's a big part of the future."
Originally constructed in Poland, Canopée first set sail at the end of 2022 and had its sails installed in the summer of 2023. Capable of transporting 5,000 tons of cargo at a speed of 16.5 knots, it has now returned to Europe and will make approximately twelve trips each year between the ports of Bremen, Rotterdam, Le Havre, and Bordeaux, before delivering its cargo to Pariacabo in French Guiana.
Made from sailcloth, the soft "Oceanwings" are mounted on Canopée to allow the ship's crew to adjust the height of the sails along the mast from the bridge of the ship, according to Christiaan De Beukelaer, author of "Trade Winds" and a researcher at the University of Melbourne, who is not involved in the project. As a result, the sails can be easily "reefed," altering their surface area to accommodate varying wind speeds.
"The precursor to the Oceanwings, used in an experimental capacity, actually won the Americas Cup in 2010," he adds. After this victory at the prestigious sailing competition, the racing yacht rig was modified to serve ocean-going cargo ships.
"Its a promising design, though its a bit early to comment on which designs are the most popular options with both shipping companies and ship crews," says De Beukelaer.
Canopée arriving at Pariacabo harbor in November 2023.
JM Guillon
Winds of change
Joyeux explains that the presence of the wingsails has brought a new level of excitement to the day-to-day operations on the ship. As a former sailor, he can see that the crew on Canopée is thrilled to work with the sails as it adds an element of interest to the routing of the ship. Each trip becomes unique and is dependent on the wind forecast, requiring the crew to adapt. Currently, the ship focuses on meeting its scheduled arrival times rather than saving fuel, and will switch to diesel engines if there is insufficient wind.
Gavin Allwright, the secretary general of the International Windship Association, a non-profit organization that promotes maritime wind propulsion solutions, reports that there are currently 31 large wind-assisted cargo ships (over 400 tons of gross tonnage) in operation globally, with an additional 20 expected to launch before the year ends. Allwright notes that it took 12 years to reach the first 23 installations by the end of 2022, but it has taken just over 12 months to get the next 23 ships on the water. The organization aims to have 100 vessels in operation by early 2025.
Among the 31 vessels, there are at least six different types of wind propulsion technologies being utilized. The most common is the use of rotor sails - large spinning cylinders that produce thrust. Another popular choice is hard sails inspired by aircraft wings, seen on ships like the Pyxis Ocean chartered by US shipping company Cargill. A more unique choice is the use of giant kites that can soar up to 1,000 feet above the water, capturing stronger winds.
However, despite a global fleet of approximately 60,000 large merchant ships, De Beukelaer asserts that the impact of these vessels is limited. Nevertheless, he emphasizes that the adoption of wind propulsion offers three key benefits. "It reduces the immediate use of fossil fuels, decreases the necessity for zero-emission fuels as a replacement for fossil fuels, which will accelerate the transition, and provides shipping companies with a free and stable source of energy unaffected by price fluctuations."
He acknowledges that it will take time to thoroughly evaluate Canopée's sustainability credentials. "But the initial achievement is evident: Canopée is operational and is certainly assisting ship owners and operators in recognizing that wind propulsion is a viable investment today to swiftly reduce emissions, especially since retrofits are feasible for most vessel types," he explains.
"Existing wind ships suggest that wind propulsion is a sound investment for both the bottom line of shipping companies and for the planet."
