Chasing Wind with Wind-Assisted Propulsion: Seamanship or Button-Pressing?

Wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS) are important technologies to achieve greener maritime transportation. There is a research gap in the knowledge on the competence for operating WAPS - what competence is needed by whom, for operating vessels safely and efficiently. In this study, we explore operation of WAPS on two vessels with suction sails and rotor sails to learn from current experiences. The method consists of qualitative interviews and observations on board that are analysed through a simplified thematic analysis. The findings show that there is great variation in the demands that WAPS put on the crew and land-based personnel to gain maximum potential of sails on board. A central dimension is whether optimizing of WAPS operations requires competence to make contextspecific deliberations with regards how and when to «chase wind», or if skills to operate automated systems are sufficient.

Keywords: Wind-Assisted Propulsion, WAPS, Competence, Wind, Seamanship, Maritime.