At the 2021 Movin’On global sustainable mobility summit, Michelin has transformed ambition into action by presenting innovations that address some of the major challenges impacting the future of mobility. Designed to make transportation more efficient while conserving resources, Michelin’s latest solutions represent core enablers in the efforts being pursued by Movin’On and its ecosystem to foster mobility that is gentler on the planet.
The Wing Sail Mobility (WISAMO) project is an automated, telescopic, inflatable wing sail system that can be fitted on both merchant ships and pleasure craft. The system is the product of a collaborative venture between Michelin Research & Development and two Swiss inventors who share the Group’s “all-sustainable” vision.
The inflatable wing sail harnesses the wind, a free, universal and inexhaustible source of propulsion. Its revolutionary design enables a ship to reduce its fuel consumption and thereby have a positive impact on the environment by lowering CO2 emissions.
Designed and developed by the WISAMO project team, the system is installable on most merchant ships and pleasure craft. Especially suitable for ro-ro ships, bulk carriers and oil and gas tankers, it can be fitted as original equipment on newbuilds or retrofitted on in-service vessels.
The wing’s range of use is one of the market’s broadest, with proven effectiveness on many points of sail, and especially when close-hauled (windward). It can be used on every maritime shipping route. The telescopic mast is retractable, making it easy for a ship to enter harbors and pass under bridges. In all, the system can improve a ship’s fuel efficiency by up to 20%*.
The WISAMO system will first be fitted on a merchant ship in 2022, when Michelin expects it to go into production following completion of the trial phase.
Such projects will make cargo transportation more efficient.
Source: https://www.michelin.com/en/press-releases/2021-movinon-michelin-presents-two-innovations-to-accelerate-the-development-of-sustainable-mobility/