MOL opts for wind power
On the back of the recent AIP approval for the Wind Challenger, a wind-assisted vessel design by Class NK, Tokyo (Japan)-headquartered MOL is joining the International Windship Association (IWSA) as a full member. For the last five years, this non-profit organisation has been bringing together wind propulsion projects, research organisations and projects.
It is promoting the wind as a credible, viable and increasingly economic option for commercial vessels. Operating over 750 vessels, MOL will bring substantial experience and industry know-how to the organisation as interest in both wind-assist and primary wind propulsion is growing. The pace of development of wind propulsion solutions is expected to continue.
An EU commissioned report on the wind propulsion market in 2017 predicted up to more than 10,000 wind propulsion installations by 2030 and the recent UK clean maritime plan forecast market potential at GBP 300 million per year over the next decade growing to GBP 2 billion per year by the 2050s. (fd)