Designed for passenger transport and scheduled ferry services, these catamarans can be equipped with different wind-propulsion solutions according to each operator’s requirements. This new project will integrate the automated wings developed by Wisamo, making it possible to harness the wind without requiring the crew to handle a traditional rig.
The idea is not to sail exclusively under wind power, but to use the wings as supplementary propulsion whenever conditions allow. Their contribution should then reduce the power required from the main propulsion system and, consequently, energy consumption, while allowing the shuttle to maintain the schedule required by a regular service.
The rendering unveiled by the two partners shows a catamaran equipped with two large Wisamo wings installed above the coachroof. However, the project is still at the study stage: Chantier de l’Arsenal and Wisamo still need to work on the vessel’s architecture, the positioning of the wings, their structural integration and the expected performance according to different operating profiles. The aim is to quickly develop a configuration that can be offered to passenger shuttle operators.
