At the 17th Symposium on High-Performance Marine Vehicles (HIPER’25), held in Tullamore, Ireland, from 5–7 May 2025, Stirling Design International (SDI) presented innovative work on the future of sustainable shipping.
Fabio Pili and Thibaut Tincelin of SDI delivered a paper outlining the latest merchant ship concepts developed under the WHISPER project, funded by the Horizon Europe programme and UK Research and Innovation.
Thibaut Tincelin explaining the WHISPER project’s latest developments at HIPER´25. © Volker Bertram
A demonstrator: The Ant. TOPIC Ultramax bulk carrier Maria Topic with an OceanWings® sail is a demonstrator aiming to develop the technologies and monitor the performance, with the objective to propose new build and retrofit concepts with the 30% performance target.
Managed by Verkis and technically led by SDI, the WHISPER Project introduces highly innovative designs for Panamax bulk carriers and container feeders, targeting up to a 30% reduction in fuel consumption.
A key highlight is the integration of six 363 m² OceanWings® sails into a Panamax bulk carrier—developed with insights from ship agency Ant. Topic and Marfin Management. The container feeder design features two liftable OceanWings® sails combined with an innovative hull form, shaped by commercial input from Samskip and Nav-Tech.
The paper presented by SDI offers a detailed analysis of performance prediction, operational challenges, and risk mitigation strategies. Both vessel concepts demonstrate how wind and solar energy can be effectively deployed in shipbuilding and repair to support a more sustainable maritime future.