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WHISPER project moves to full-scale sea trials
The European WHISPER research and innovation project, led by Verkís, has reached an important milestone as full-scale sea trials begin aboard the Ultramax bulk carrier Maria Topic.
The vessel, operated by Ant. TOPIC, has been fitted with OceanWings rigid wingsails and Solbian solar panels. The wingsails provide wind-assisted propulsion, reducing the power required from the main engine, while the solar panels generate renewable electricity for onboard use.
The sea trials will assess the technologies under real operating conditions, including energy production, fuel-saving potential, reliability and integration with the vessel’s day-to-day operations.
“After extensive preparation and development work, it is very exciting to finally begin the sea trials. Seeing the wingsails and solar panels installed aboard Maria Topic demonstrates that practical green solutions are no longer a distant vision, but a real option today. Further sea trials of the SideWind and Solbian technologies are also ahead, and we look forward to sharing more about them in the coming months,” says Carine Chatenay, Civil Engineer at Verkís and WHISPER Project Manager.
WHISPER brings together 13 partners from across Europe and aims to develop modular retrofit technologies that can help reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from the commercial shipping fleet.
The project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme and runs until the end of 2026.
Read the full WHISPER announcement:
Learn more about WHISPER:
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