Maritime Minister Mike Kane has visited Hull to see the first example of a groundbreaking ship propulsion system called AirWing, being assembled at the MMS Docks in Hull for installation on a Carisbrooke Shipping vessel.
Manufacturer GT Wings is expected to have it ready for sea trials in March, and it could not only reduce vessels emissions by 30%, bit also create opportunities for skilled workers and bring economic activity to the region, positioning Hull as a hub for maritime innovation.
George Thompson, CEO of GT Wings, said: “We’re extremely excited about the imminent launch of AirWing, our next-generation, compact wind propulsion technology designed to help even the most challenging ocean-going vessels decarbonise by harnessing wind power.
“This progressive step has been made possible thanks to the support of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, which recognised the transformative potential of this innovation and GT Wings’ ability to scale it for market impact.
“With the UK leading the way in modern wind propulsion, it’s an exciting time to be driving fresh innovation in this space.”
Captain Simon Merritt, senior fleet manager at Carisbrooke Shipping Ltd, said: “We look forward to the first AirWing being installed on our cargo ship this month, significantly reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
“This project has been accelerated with funding from Department for Transport and Innovate UK under CMDC Round 4. It demonstrates the power of collaboration between leading British companies, turning innovative ideas into real solutions to decarbonise the maritime industry while creating job opportunities in the UK.”
