Maritime technology and the circular economy are two of our economic priorities. In this project, they come together beautifully. It is great that on Entrepreneurs Day we can show that we have this knowledge in these special companies in Fryslân, said Deputy Douwstra.
In the European Interreg NWE project Wind for Shipping (W4S), regions from Germany, France, and the Netherlands collaborate on further development and scaling up the production of wind-assisted propulsion for sea vessels (Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion). These can be large steel sails or rotors. The use of WIND wings can lead to a direct fuel saving of 10 to 15 percent, depending on the shipping route. Worldwide, approximately 30,000 sea vessels qualify for this technology, representing a market potential of €30 billion.
Frisian Cooperation
The maritime sector and steel processing companies from Fryslân collaborate with market leader Econowind on the production and installation of WIND wings. Companies such as Bijlsma Marine Services, Boomsma Shipping, Machinefabriek Leenstra, and Nauta Heeg play an important role. The first steel WIND wing, a 30-meter-high model called ‘Grutte Pier’, was developed in an EFRO project, co-financed by the EU via SNN. It is currently being built by Nauta in Heeg with Bijlsma in Warten and will be tested by shipping company Boomsma Shipping from Sneek.
The Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz (MIWB) is also involved. Because sailing with WIND wings requires different skills, future seafarers are already being prepared for this new, sustainable way of sailing during their training.
The W4S project focuses on scaling up and robotizing production. While the first prototype is still labor-intensive, the next step will be automated production. This way, more wings can be made faster and cheaper. The ambition of W4S is to develop an optimal production chain for WIND wings and install them on ships in a short time. Thanks to the strategic location of Harlingen in the North Sea network, the port is seen as an ideal installation hub for this technology, offering extra opportunities for Fryslân.
