Hapag-Lloyd researches sailing container ship

Martin Köpke, Manager Regulatory Affairs & Sustainability, said:  "What will drive us in the years ahead will be new alternative fuels. These aren’t available yet in the needed quantities and will initially be very expensive. That’s why energy efficiency and alternative technologies, such as using wind power to reduce fuel consumption, are important. Succeeding in these efforts will be crucial if we are to achieve our short- and medium-term goals by 2030. The company began working with German yachtsman Boris Herrmann and the Malizia team in early 2023 and launched a concept study for a 4,500 TEU ship with a state-of-the-art wind-assisted propulsion system.

The design foresees eight sails with a 3,000 square-metre sail area. Six rear sails will be extendable and the two front ones retractable so that cargo operations port will be without obstacles. That would also protect the sail system from damage and avoid obstacles such as bridges. The container ship will be powered by an engine fuelled with green-methanol. The sail system is only used to assist propulsion depending on speed and wind conditions.

Computer simulations should help researchers learn how the ship behaves in realistic weather conditions and how much energy could be saved with the sail system. Hapag-Lloyd hopes to finalise the concept phase in the next months. Köpke added: "We assume that renewable energy fuels will be expensive, but that may look different in five years. Then we will have to reassess whether the project is worthwhile.” However, Hapag-Lloyd is staying the course. Dr Christoph Thiem, Director Strategic Assets Projects, added: “In future, instead of propelling our ships with fossil fuels, we want to use fuels that are produced using electricity generated by renewable energy sources, such as wind energy. A sail system would ensure that the wind energy is directly harnessed and that some of this fuel is saved.”

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