Wisamo, Michelin’s revolutionary inflatable sail

CO2 emissions from maritime freight are set to drop by 70% by 2040, Michelin revives the idea of wind propulsion for cargo ships.

The issue is well-known: cruise ships and massive cargo vessels are incredibly polluting. They account for 3% of global CO2 emissions and 11% in transportation. Awareness is widespread, to the extent that international standards set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) require a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and a 70% reduction by 2040 (compared to 2008) for commercial vessels in Europe.

To adapt to this major transformation, the use of wind propulsion is gaining traction. This method harnesses wind, a clean, immediate, and universally accessible energy source, making it particularly suitable for the maritime sector in search of decarbonization.

In this context, Wisamo (short for Wing Sails Mobility), an initiative by the French group Michelin, introduces a technological innovation in wind propulsion. This system combines simplicity, durability, and efficiency, marking a significant step towards greener maritime transport.

A telescopic and intelligent sail

Wisamo is centered around a fully retractable telescopic mast made up of several segments that automatically deploy and retract via a control software. This design allows for complete mast retraction, facilitating maneuvers in ports and passing under bridges. At sea, the sail deploys using fans that inflate it simultaneously with the mast deployment. This low-pressure inflation mechanism is designed to maintain a symmetrical aerodynamic profile of the sail, avoiding any deformation due to wind or impacts. Equipped with several sensors, the sail automatically adjusts its position based on the direction and strength of the wind, thus optimizing performance autonomously.

Michelin assures that this intelligent sail is adaptable to all types of vessels, whether new or already in service, without disrupting the crew. This installation could achieve a fuel consumption reduction of around 20%! For shipowners, that means 20% savings on fuel bills…

Full-scale tests in progress

Michelin Wisamo is not just a fanciful creation. It is already developed and being tested on a ship, Le Pélican, which sails on the high seas in the Bay of Biscay between Poole (United Kingdom) and Bilbao (Spain). This deployment aims to test the second prototype of a 100 m2 surface in authentic maritime conditions.

These trials aim to confirm the sail’s robustness in strong winds at sea, its ease of automatic use, and the impact on the onboard crew. 600 hours of sea trials have already been completed, and the next step will be to increase the sail area to 800 m2.

The production of the Michelin Wisamo sail could soon be rapidly underway…

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