SkySails - History & Milestones

History & Milestones

SkySails started with the development of the world's first practicable towing kite propulsion system for commercial shipping in 2001. Having successfully completed the basic research and engineering in 2005, the system’s towing kite area was scaled up to 160m² and thoroughly tested on the 55m-long former buoy tender MV “Beaufort” in the years 2006 and 2007.

At the end of 2007/beginning of 2008 SkySails initiated a one and a half year-long pilot phase of the SkySails-System on board the customer vessels MV “Michael A.” (WESSELS Reederei; first retrofit system) and MV “Beluga SkySails” (Beluga Shipping; first installation on new build) during regular shipping operations. Not only did the pilot testing confirm the viability of this towing-kite propulsion concept on board, the measurements of the tractive force generated make the SkySails-System the most capable and effective wind propulsion system in the world.

Currently, SkySails is equipping a series of three new cargo ships belonging to the Wessels shipping company of Haren/Ems with latest-generation SkySails-Systems. The first vessel of this series - the MV “Theseus” - has been sailing with SkySails propulsion since August 2009. In early 2010 the first fishing trawler - the ROS-171 “Maartje Theadora” - will be outfitted with a SkySails-System.

The following pictures document the development process of the SkySails-System:

2001/02: Testing platform I "Da Vinci"

The basic physics underlying the SkySails technology were examined with the modified catamaran "Da Vinci" that served as a SkySails testing platform. The catamaran was easy to operate and had the desired hydrodynamic properties. The ship and the towing kite were controlled manually. The series of tests demonstrated that it is physically possible to propel a ship with a towing kite.

2003/04: Testing platform II "Galileo"

As Testing Platform II SkySails used the "Galileo" an 8-meter, 2-ton scale model of an existing container ship from the Hamburg Ship Model Basin (HSVA). The first step was to conduct scientific tests in the towing tank at the Hamburg Ship Model Basin to examine a kite's tractive behavior on conventional cargo ships. Practical tests on the Baltic Sea that used this very same model propelled by a small towing kite proved that the SkySails technology is suitable for cargo shipping. The data collected in the test allowed the first back calculation to be made on the system in original scale. Already at that time the ship and towing kite were remotely controlled.

2004/05: Testing platform III MY "Jan Luiken"

The outfitting of systems components for towing kites having a surface area of up to 40 square meters onto the 15-meter, 18-ton "MY Jan Luiken" as SkySails Testing Platform III began in November 2004. All key system components, such as the launch and recovery system, were successfully tested in practice first-hand over the course of 2005. The system operated in a semiautomatic mode and the alpha version of the autopilot was already implemented at that time.
The "MY Jan Luiken" still serves SkySails today as a development platform. New engineering and technology concepts are tested aboard her in small scale before being implemented in full scale on the experimental ship "MS Beaufort." This approach helps reduce development costs. The "MS Jan Luiken" was named after Jan Luiken Oltmann, the founder of the Oltmann Group, the renowned ship financing company based in Leer.

2006/2007: Further development SkySails-System for cargo ships

Work to equip the almost 55-meter and 800-ton former buoy tender "MS Beaufort" (formerly the "MS Buk") began in January 2006. After completion of the installation, test operations with system sizes of 80m2 commenced.

By the end of 2006 the towing kite's area of the SkySails-System on this ship had been scaled all the way up to 160 square meters and thoroughly tested on the North and Baltic Sea in the year 2007. This marked the first time that the SkySails-System aboard the "Beaufort" had reached full-scale size. Small cargo ships, fish trawlers and super yachts can already be equipped with systems of this size.

End of 2007 – beginning of 2009: Pilot Phase Cargo Ships

At the end of 2007/beginning of 2008 and working hand in hand with our customers Beluga Shipping and the WESSELS Reederei, SkySails took the last major step in developing the SkySails technology into a production-ready product as a result of pilot testing and first-time use of the system aboard their ships “Beluga SkySails” and “Michael A.” during regular shipping operations.

Overall, the results of this pilot testing phase exceeded expectations in regards to the tractive force produced by SkySails propulsion: The fuel consumption aboard the “Michael A.” was at times able to be reduced by over 50% with the help of SkySails propulsion. Alternatively, the ship’s speed could be increased by approximately 1.6 knots thanks to the additional power that the SkySails-System provided.

SkySails propulsion has been integrated ideally into the ship’s operations; it required no major effort or expense to be installed onto the vessels. And, it has been proven that ships remain fully maneuverable while employing the SkySails-System. What’s more, trials have confirmed that present crew strengths are fully adequate for operating the system and that the operational concept works as intended.

2009: First series of cargo ships with SkySails

In 2009 SkySails equips a first series of three cargo ships belonging to the Wessels shipping company of Haren/Ems with the latest-generation SkySails-Systems.

The “Theseus” is one of three new Rhine class ships being built for Wessels at the Komarno shipyard in Slovakia. The “Theseus” is the same type of ship as the “Michael A.” and is 90 meters long, has a capacity of some 3,700 dwt and a MaK main engine that produces 1,500 kW of power. A 160 m² SkySails propulsion system works to relieve the main engine of the “Theseus” the same way it does on board the “Michael A.”

Final installation and commissioning of the towing-kite propulsion system on the “Theseus” was completed in early August at SkySails’ manufacturing facilities in Wismar. The vessel has been sailing with SkySails propulsion ever since and the new system has already proven itself throughout these months during practical use.

Outlook 2009/2010: SKS C 320 and first installation on fishing trawler

As part of advanced product development, SkySails is working right now on perfecting system performance, and engineering the next larger SkySails propulsion system. Designated the SKS C 320, it will have an approximately 300 m² large towing kite and generate 16 tons of tractive force in good winds. At the end of 2009 the “Beluga SkySails” will become the first ship to be fitted with an SKS C 320.

In October 2009 the purchase agreement for the first SkySails-System to be installed on a fishing trawler was signed. The first preparatory works for the installation are already under way. SkySails propulsion is scheduled to be placed in operation early 2010 aboard the ROS-171 “Maartje Theadora” fishing vessel.

Parlevliet & Van der Plas and SkySails will be working very closely together and evaluate if and in what way the wind propulsion system needs to be modified for use on fishing vessels on board the ROS-171 “Maartje Theadora”. For these purposes a pilot project has been launched which is financially funded and supported by the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) and the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

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