WHISPER Project: Energy Transition from Wind and Solar Energy

Abstract This paper presents the latest merchant ship concepts developed by the WHISPER Project Consortium under the Horizon Europe framework. The project is managed by Verkis and technically led by Stirling Design International (SDI), a naval architecture firm. It showcases innovative Panamax bulk carrier and container feeder designs, achieving up to 30% fuel consumption reduction through the integration of cutting-edge technologies, including OceanWings wingsails, Solbian solar panels, and Sidewind turbines. The paper provides a detailed analysis of the performance prediction, operational challenges, and associated risks. Mitigation strategies employed within the WHISPER Project will also be discussed. One key innovation is the integration of six tiltable OceanWings wingsails, each 363 m2, into a Panamax bulk carrier, based on insights from Ant Topic and Marfin Management ship owners. Additionally, the paper presents the integration of two OceanWings wingsails with elevator platform on a container feeder with an innovative hull design, highlighting results on ship commercial capacity and performance as informed by Samskip and Nav-Tech ship owners. Both designs developed by SDI are practical examples of how renewable wind and solar energy technologies can be effectively incorporated into the shipbuilding and ship repair sectors, offering substantial potential for sustainable maritime operations. Keywords wind propulsion; bulk carrier; wing sail; naval architecture