Wallenius Wilhelmsen Grapples with Car Carrier Wind Propulsion | Mariner News

Wallenius Wilhelmsen is encountering a significant obstacle in its pursuit of wind propulsion for car carriers: vessel stability. The company’s COO, Xavier Leroi, confirmed that the tendency for vessels to heel when catching the wind poses a critical operational and safety concern, stating, “When it catches the wind, you can see the vessel heel slightly. And of course we don’t want that.”

This stability challenge is a primary reason car carriers are lagging behind other shipping segments in the adoption of green technologies, including wind assist systems. Unlike some other vessel types, the inherent design characteristics of car carriers, which often feature high freeboard, make them particularly susceptible to wind forces and subsequent heeling.

Addressing this issue requires fundamental engineering solutions beyond merely integrating sail technology. The need to maintain cargo stability and safe operational parameters in varying wind conditions introduces a complex design hurdle unique to the car carrier segment.

This segment-specific difficulty in embracing a promising decarbonization pathway aligns with DNV’s recent revision of its outlook for green technologies, noting “no tailwind” for their widespread implementation. The practical implications suggest a slower trajectory for wind propulsion adoption within the car carrier sector compared to more readily adaptable vessel types.