Innovative mechanism for sustainable sailing systems

The maritime sector is under increasing pressure to reduce CO₂ emissions. A promising solution lies in combining sailing with solar energy, significantly reducing fuel consumption and lowering the ecological footprint of ships. Selar, a French company, is working with Cormoran, a maritime start-up, on the development of Captain Arctic: a revolutionary expedition cruise ship. The vessel features five 35-metre long, rotating and foldable aluminium masts with integrated solar panels. The sails are as large as the wings of an A380 aircraft. Iv was commissioned by Cormoran to review and further optimise the design of the rotary mechanism for this innovative sailing system.

The load on the sailing system changes continuously due to varying wind and sailing directions. With fatigue of the steel structure in combination with wear of the moving parts in mind, a flexible and robust design has been made.

Iv optimised the rotary mechanism with a stronger, lighter, and more cost-effective design, enabling the sailing system to operate efficiently under different conditions. The system can reduce the CO₂ emissions of ships by up to 90%. This concept expands the potential for wind and solar energy on ships and contributes to the overall sustainability of the maritime sector. It represents a significant step towards the wider implementation of sustainable technologies in shipping.