Analysis of the Feasibility, in Relation to Their Loading and Unloading Operations, of Providing Bulk Carriers with WASP

This study is the result of a collaboration between the company Boun4blue and the “Universidad de Cantabria”. This Spanish company is a leader in the development of Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion Systems (WASP), in two modalities: Wingsail and Esail. One of the handicaps for the installation of this type of sails on the deck of bulk carriers is their interaction with the solid bulk terminals loading and unloading equipment. “Universidad de Cantabria” intervened here, carrying out a general survey of the different means of loading and unloading in-stalled in the solid bulk terminals throughout the ports of five continents, to analyse the compatibility of those equipment, at an operational level, with the installation of these thrusters on board. Sails that can help, to a large extent, to achieve the objectives of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), in its 2030 agenda, to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) from vessels by up to 35%. The IMO establishes that one of the issues to be studied is the operativity of these systems and at this point we frame the narrative that it is presented here, reaching the pertinent conclusions on the points to improve in some terminals to facilitate compatibility with these new complementary propulsion for existing and new vessels, which guarantee zero emissions.