SkySails

SkySails is a registered trademark of the eponymous hamburger company SkySails GmbH & Co. KG for a fully automated towing kite that will attract even more with the help of wind energy cargo ships, large yachts and fishing trawlers to the motor drive. With this system, equipped ships should be able to operate more profitable and environmentally friendly.

Business

The SkySails GmbH & Co. KG was founded in Hamburg in 2001 by Stephan Wrage and Thomas Meyer as a limited liability company. It was registered on 15 February 2002 at the Hamburg District Court in the Commercial Register under number HRB 82712.

The company is headquartered in Hamburg. In addition SkySails maintains a testing center in Wismar.

The marketing of the SkySails system is through the Zeppelin SkySails service and Vertriebsges. mbH & Co. KG done. This was established together with the Zeppelin Power Systems GmbH & Co. KG, a Hamburg-based subsidiary of the Zeppelin group.

Due to the weak economy in 2012 shipowner do not invest in alternative drive systems. Therefore, half of the 80 employees the company had to lay off the end of January. The company funded by venture capital could not reach profitability until now.

System

The SkySails system consists of three main components:

  • Towing kite with rope
  • Launch and recovery system
  • Control system for fully automatic operation

Instead of a traditional sail with mast SkySails generates the propulsion by large towing kites ( Traction ), consisting of high-strength and weatherproof textiles.

The tethered flying SkySails can operate at altitudes between 100 and 300 m, where stronger and steadier winds. The tensile forces are transmitted via a highly tear-resistant plastic rope on the ship.

The launch and recovery system on the bow takes over the automatic launch and recovery of the towing kite. At the start of like a harmonica, ruched kite is lifted with a telescopic mast from a storage container. In sufficient amounts, the kite unfolds to its full size and can be started. A winch fiert the pull rope until the operating altitude is reached. The landing procedure is reversed. The fully automatic takeoff and landing procedure takes about 10-20 minutes each.

With the SkySails technology can be according to the manufacturer almost all cargo ships ( except for large container ships), superyachts and fish trawlers retrofit.

Investigations

At the University of Applied Sciences Oldenburg / Ostfriesland / Wilhelmshaven, the use of the system on the former buoy tender Beaufort was within a research project investigates and develops a performance model. On the 54 m long ship, with that between July 2006 and late 2007, the tests were mostly carried out in the Baltic Sea, SkySails kites were used with the size of 80 m². The fuel savings could be fixed and is under favorable wind conditions ( abaft true wind of about 6 Bft ) for the 80 m² kite about 64 l / h on a ride of 12 kn. This corresponds to continuous operation at these wind conditions, a reduction in fuel consumption of approximately 20 %. Under optimal wind conditions ( with about 7-8 Bft from aft ), the time saved by the kite motor power ranging from 240-400 kW, corresponding to a potential savings of up to 30 %.

Tests on the coaster "Michael A." Kites with the size of 160 m² revealed according to a statement the company SkySails that an annual fuel saving of 15 % is realistic. This saving would be not only economically but also ecologically significant against the background that the global shipping traffic sulfur and nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide emitted more than aviation.

In October 2009, with the Dutch fishing company Parlevliet & Van der Plas BV agreed to provide the 141 -meter-long vessel ROS -171 Maartje Theadora with a 160 m² SkySails sail and make further tests and if necessary adjustments. Mid-2012 the SkySails system was dismantled, because it has been found that the towing kite system for trawling is unsuitable.

Practice test

On 15 December 2007, the motor vessel Beluga SkySails the now insolvent Bremen -based Beluga Group was christened in Hamburg. This is the first commercial ship, which is equipped with the SkySails technology. Before the maiden voyage, the crew of the Beluga SkySails had trained over twelve months with the system according to the shipping company. Following the bankruptcy of the Beluga Group, the ship was sold to the Briese. It's long term chartered to the subsidiary company BBC Chartering and now as a BBC SkySails to ride.

The maiden voyage of the 132 -meter-long BBC Skysails began on 22 January 2008 in Bremerhaven and led over Guanta ( Venezuela) to Davant (Mississippi) to the end point of the ride to Mo i Rana (Norway ) of 13 March 2008, after 11,952 nautical miles, was reached. During the 51- day journey, the system was used on several days between a few minutes and eight hours. In this case, the SkySails system moved the ship at crosswinds of 5 with a force of up to five tons, which corresponds compared to the engine power of a relief of about 20%.

Fuel savings

The - on the occasion of the EU-funded LIFE project WINTECC (term four years) determined - annual fuel saving is, on windy routes, at about 5.5%. This practice value is well below the predicted values ​​, the specified fuel savings of 15-20%. In total there is - after eleven years of research and development, five years of field testing and an investment volume of around 50 million euros - two ships (as of March 2013) equipped with the system.

Awards

  • Clean Tech Media Award 2008
  • Technology Pioneers 2008
  • Future Award 2007
  • GründerChampions 2007
  • Red Herring 100 Europe Award 2007
  • Peixe Verde Ideas Contest
  • World of Wonders Innovation Award
  • Innovation Award of German Industry
  • Land of Ideas - SkySails a place in the Land of Ideas
  • Global 100 Eco - Tech Award
  • The Outstanding Young Person 2004
  • Innovation Award of the Senate of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
Types of business entity Wind power Beluga Shipping Handelsblatt
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