The aim of the project is to develop a comprehensive methodology for the design of ships with Flettner rotors, in order to enable a wide application of the technology in shipping. To this end, different types of ships will be investigated and optimised for operation with Flettner rotors in cooperation with the shipping companies involved in the project. This will make it easier to transfer the results to actual ship designs.

“The extremely positive results of our prototype installation are now being used to further develop the technology. With this installation, we already have a good database for the next optimisation steps, which we will now expand even further.“

Another element of the project is to optimise the route planning for rotor vessels so that they can make the best use of the wind. However, the aim is not to cover unnecessary extra distances in order to meet schedules. It is also important that the control of the rotors is as simple as possible, but that the systems have a high degree of autonomy and intelligence. This is the only way they can be used as much as possible and thus save fuel. The units need to be well coordinated with each other to achieve further fuel savings.

The pioneer of the project is the former “MS Fehn Pollux”, equipped with a Flettner rotor from Leer.

Other rotor ships, such as the MS E-Ship1 and the MS Annika Braren, will also be included in the project’s database during the course of the measurement campaigns. For this purpose, the existing measurement systems on board will be checked and, if necessary, adapted in order to be able to record the relevant data from the rotors. Analyses will help to optimise the Flettner rotor technology and to develop the planned ship designs for the interaction between the Flettner rotors and the system ship.