The UK-based Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS), in collaboration with Smart Green Shipping (SGS), has become the first nuclear transport operator to install and trial innovative sail technology on its specialist ships in a bid to reduce its carbon footprint.
NTS vessels are operated by Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd (PNTL), which is owned mainly by NTS (part of the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority) along with French nuclear fuel company Orano and a consortium of Japanese utilities which use its services. The three diesel-powered specialist ships – Pacific Heron, Pacific Egret and Pacific Grebe – transport high-level waste and other nuclear material. So far PNTL has shipped more than 2,000 nuclear casks 5m miles to Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA. SGS’s FastRig wing sail was installed on Pacific Grebe.
The technology uses wind power to help propel the ship, potentially reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 30% on a full commercial installation. The FastRig wing sail is a lightweight, retractable solution which uses specialist sensors and automated technology to adapt to changing weather conditions, allowing it to deploy and retract as necessary to ensure both fuel efficiency and safety.
Seth Kybird, NTS CEO said: “The addition of the FastRig system aligns with our goals for sustainable operations and demonstrates our commitment to pioneering green technologies in the maritime sector.” NTS Managing Director of Shipping Pete Buchan noted: “While this is still a trial at this stage, it’s the first real-world application of this wing and could change the way all ships sail, drastically reducing emissions and fuel usage across the industry. We’re really proud of the role we’ve had in this project and can’t wait to see the final results of the trial.”
SGS CEO Diane Gilpinsaid NTS demonstrates great leadership in pioneering the world first sea trials of FastRig. “Their ships demand the very highest safety standards and our collaboration shows Fastrigs can be installed on any ship. NTS is allowing SGS to undertake formal sea trials which gives us accurate, independently verified performance data against which we can corroborate the digital models and tank testing results the University of Southampton have been developing.”
The project is part of Winds of Change, a two-year plan, which began in April 2023 and runs until March 2025. The project is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 3 (CMDC3), announced in September 2022, funded by the UK Department for Transport and delivered in partnership with InnovateUK. As part of the CMDC3, the Department allocated £60m ($78m) to 19 projects supported by 92 UK organisations to demonstrate R&D projects in clean maritime solutions.
