We are excited to share an update on our groundbreaking AirWing project, a significant step towards sustainable shipping.

For the past three years, Carisbrooke Shipping has been working in collaboration with GT Wings as a consortium member to develop, install, and certify a prototype wind propulsion system. Early last year, project secured GBP 3.7 million in funding from Innovate UK, setting an ambitious 12-month timeline for completion, with the project concluding on 1st April 2025.

Through dedicated efforts, we have successfully installed the AirWing prototype ahead of schedule, with all project milestones met. Although sea trials are ongoing, the installation was completed in recent weeks, and class society trials, along with certification, were conducted off the coast of Hull, UK last Sunday.

 Overcoming Unique Challenges

This project presented numerous challenges, from ensuring compliance with IMO and local regulations to working within a restricted deck footprint amidst spaces carrying dangerous goods. Additionally, our partners had limited maritime experience, making the final installation phase particularly complex. At its peak, the shipyard hosted 27 personnel assembling and installing the AirWing.

Project Achievements in Numbers:

• Structural modifications: 9.6 tonnes of steel replaced below deck.
• Pedestal installation: 8.7 tonnes of steel added to the deck.
• Electrical work: Over 7.5 km of electrical cabling installed.
• Stability tests: Removal and re-installation of all equipment, stores, and spares.

 The Road Ahead

Despite being installed on an operational vessel, the AirWing is now fully in place, marking a major achievement for our team. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) projections suggest that MV Vectis Progress could achieve an 8.3% reduction in fuel consumption based on IMO-standard wind distribution. Given the prevailing wind conditions on the vessel’s Canada-Europe route, we anticipate even greater efficiency gains. The AirWing is designed to operate in winds up to 45 knots (Beaufort Force 9) and withstand speeds of 100 knots.

Sea trials will continue in the coming weeks, focusing on automation and performance optimisation. Encouragingly, initial reports indicate a promising speed increase even under light winds.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to this pioneering project, especially those who braved the harsh winter conditions in Hull to bring this vision to life. Your commitment and perseverance have been instrumental in achieving this milestone. We look forward to sharing further updates as the trials progress.