Japanese consortium to revive soft sails
In a novel arrangement, the fabric soft sails will be extended from the vessel’s cranes (Rendering: Sumitomo HI)
The sails, which will be attached to the cranes on board of the bulk carrier, are to be developed by North Sails Japan, a manufacturer which specialises in high-end synthetic fibre sails for racing boats. At 8m high and 13.2m wide, the sails will be able to adjust its angle of attack to suit the prevailing wind direction.
The system is being designed by North Sails in collaboration with Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine & Engineering (SHI-ME), a subsidiary of Sumitomo Heavy Industries.
The move is a departure from most modern sail designs for large merchant vessels, which largely consist of steel or fibreglass construction. If successful, it could see a revival of Japan’s leadership in modern sails, which began with Shin Aitoku Maru during the oil crisis of the 1970s. That vessel, a tanker, featured sails made from canvas and stretched over a metal frame, which could fold down at times of low wind, giving the vessel the ability to reach up to 15 knots while burning no fuel.
