Inflatable Sails
One of Michelin’s latest sustainability projects has nothing to do with tires. The Wing Sail Mobility (WISAMO) Project is geared toward decarbonizing shipping tankers using wind power.
WISAMO is an inflatable, telescopic sail that can be installed on merchant vessels as well as pleasure boats. It can be retrofitted to existing ships or integrated into the designs of new builds. Designed in collaboration with world-renowned sailing experts, it is particularly effective on windward points of sail, and can improve fuel efficiency by as much as 20 percent while also reducing carbon emissions. The retractable mast also enables ships to enter harbors and pass under bridges safely.
The first WISAMO system will be installed on a merchant ship next year, and production will follow upon completion of a trial phase to test its performance under actual shipping conditions.
For information: Michelin; Web site: https://www.michelin.com/en/ or https://www.michelin.com/en/press-releases/2021-movinon-michelin-presents-two-innovations-to-accelerate-the-development-of-sustainable-mobility/