AWS is a unique solution to present challenges in WASP
AWS for ALL Vessels
Advanced Wing Systems offers a unique solution in wind assisted ship propulsion. AWS has demonstrated ease of installation, maintenance and operation. The technology can be tailored in order to accommodate diverse needs of individual operators of any size, and is available for immediate production for small vessels.
The Future is Now
Solutions are available now for all types of small vessels.
Easy-Stow
Easily stowable systems using Flat Panel Morphing (FPM) can be configured to allow wings to be stowed and reefed: crucial in adverse weather conditions and to enable handling in critical phases of the voyage.
Proven Technoloy
After the successful 7500nm sea trial on SV Lioness, AWS has demonstrated its capabilities in the very toughest conditions.
Efficient
High efficiency, asymmetric wing sections.
Versatile
AWs is applicable to either free standing or stayed rig configurations.
Adaptable
AWS technology is available for stowable rigid wing systems.
 AWS installationAWS installation |  AWS Small Vessel |  Crane DerricksMasts can double as crane derricks which are concealed by the wing. |  Lowered MastsOptions for lowering rigs in harbour to accommodate loading requirements or facilitate easy handling in adverse weather conditions. |
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Flat Panel Morphing
Wings, not sails
Flat Panel Morphing (FPM)
Sails used on conventional sailing vessels predominantly use sail panels which are shaped by either moulding or “broad seaming” and are made to a predetermined shape. To change the shape of these sails torturous loads are used to change the loads on the panels and the mast. By comparison, our wing sails need only to tension the panels until they are tight, a bit like a shade cloth, and then shape in the wing is completely controlled by the loads applied to the very rigid battens. This is an important distinction, as these flat panels do not flap or flog like conventional sails. Rather they are held taught regardless of their orientation to the wind.
Flat Panel Morphing in action –
A view looking between the two aerofoil skins.
Simulation of morphing of completely flat panels with control load applied only at panel boundaries
An asymmetrical, morphing aerofoil made from completely flat panels - with very light, robust controls.
Advanced Wing Systems’ wing sails use a unique system that creates morphing, asymmetrical wing sections from completely flat panels using extremely light and robust control systems. It is important to recognises that this technology is not limited to soft sails. It can be applied to thin flat panels made of any material which can flex, such as aluminium, steel, fibreglass, carbon fibre, etc. Our soft panelled sails that use this technology rely on extremely stiff battens with taught panels between to mimic the behaviour of more rigid panels. However, the soft sail versions do demonstrate the adaptability and robustness of this technology. In these cases, control points are limited to the battens only. This demonstrates that the control of the panels to create asymmetrical surfaces can be achieved by controls applied at only a few points of the panels. Hence the system can be adapted easily to telescoping systems, for example.
Flat Panel Morphing Technology provides unrivalled flexibility and control over section asymmetry, camber, thickness and twist with the lightest and most robust controls.
SV LIONESS
A 7500nm Sea Trial
AWS recently completed a sea trial from Knysna, South Africa to Valencia, Spain - over 7500nm in the toughest weather conditions.
The sea trial was a tremendous success, demonstrating all of the expected performance and handling attributes of the AWS in the toughest of sailing conditions.
The crew of SV Lioness covered more than 200nm per day for 3 days in a row, in a boat that previously only had accomplished 160nm with a traditional rig. This equates to a 27 per cent increase of performance. Achieved speeds of 9kts sustained – average speed of 8.5kts over a 60hr period.
The rig was in excellent condition on arrival in Valencia. The rig was removed in order to conduct post voyage examinations for fatigue and overall condition - the rig has shown exceptional durability in all components used given the duration of the voyage and extreme conditions experienced, traversing the equator, South to North during a Southern Hemisphere winter. Data is currently being processed - stand by for full publication of results.
It's officially the
Decade of Wind Propulsion!
Maritime shipping was responsible for around 830 Mt CO2 emissions worldwide in 2020 (880 Mt CO2 in 2019), which is around 2.5% of total energy sector emissions. Due to a lack of available low‐carbon options on the market and the long lifetime of vessels (typically 25‐35 years), shipping is one of the few transport modes that does not achieve zero emissions by 2050 in the NZE.
This is why it's more important than ever to be looking towards Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion, due to ease of retrofitting on older vessels and proven track record of fuel savings.
Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion can be defined as a group of technologies which harness wind power to thrust a vessel forward, providing auxiliary propulsion to the engine.
The thrust required to propel the ship through the water comes from combining this device with the ship’s engine, a process known as ‘motorsailing’. This reduces the amount of effective propulsion power needed to achieve a given speed.
Wind-assisted propulsion works in one of two ways:
It maintains the same ship speed for reduced engine power. This means reduced fuel consumption, costs and CO2 emissions.
It increases ship speed for the same engine power. This means reduced voyage times and, potentially, increased ship profitability.
'Harnessing the winds of change'
Gavin Allwright - IWSA
OPPORTUNITIES OF WASP
Reduce CO2 emissions and air pollution from existing and future fleet. Can be combined with alternative fuels and other energy saving technologies.
Reducing the price gap between fossil fuelled ships and zero emission shipping. Clean fuels increase fuel cost 3-4 times, which will keep ships fossil fuelled.
Reducing the investments and time needed for full decarbonization of shipping.
Wind technologies reduce marine fuel use significantly. Fuel savings of up to 30% depending on ship type and environmental conditions.
