H Nordic maritime turbines are compatible with car carriers, RoRo vessels, bulk carriers, container vessels, ferries, offshore support vessels, and tankers. The primary requirement is deck access for mounting and a superstructure geometry that produces the venturi effect. Both conditions are present on the majority of commercial ships.
Car carriers and RoRo vessels are among the best-suited vessel types. Their defining characteristic -- a large, flat superstructure face to accommodate vehicle decks -- is exactly the geometry that produces the most pronounced venturi effect.
The broad superstructure compresses airflow over the upper deck significantly. Multi-unit layouts of four to eight turbines are typically achievable on the upper deck and superstructure edges. The large flat surfaces also produce substantial vortex shedding at their edges, making the drag reduction benefit from well-positioned turbines particularly significant.
No cargo compatibility issue arises for turbines positioned at superstructure level -- vehicle loading and unloading operations are deck-level and are not affected by turbine installations at height.
Bulk carriers offer extensive open deck area, typically unobstructed between the hatches and the superstructure aft. This allows multiple turbine positions along the upper deck with clear separation between units, minimising wake and shadow interactions.
Bulk carrier operating profiles are well suited to the economics: vessels on continuous trading routes typically operate well above the 6,500-hour baseline used in the fuel savings calculation, and often at relatively constant speed -- maximising the apparent wind contribution from forward motion.
Container vessels present a more complex deck layout due to stack configurations, but turbine positions are available above and around the superstructure and at the forward face of the deckhouse. Placement is confirmed through a deck layout assessment specific to the vessel class.
The venturi effect on a container vessel is primarily generated at the forward superstructure face and the stack interfaces. Turbines at these positions capture the accelerated airflow and contribute to the drag reduction effect at the main vortex shedding points.
Ferries are directly applicable based on the Stena Jutlandica precedent. The vessel type combines high operating hours -- often 6,000 to 7,500 hours per year on scheduled routes -- with predictable wind conditions on well-defined routes, making fuel savings modelling particularly reliable.
Fixed routes also allow precise wind resource modelling based on actual meteorological data for the specific passages operated, rather than generic open-ocean assumptions.
Offshore support vessels (OSVs) are compatible subject to deck equipment review. OSV deck layouts vary considerably by vessel class and operational spec -- the primary consideration is ensuring turbine positions do not interfere with cargo handling, crane operations, or DP system antennas.
OSV operating profiles can vary widely. Vessels on long transits and those with extended field operations in exposed locations have the most favourable economics.
Tankers are compatible, with one additional consideration: ATEX zone assessment.
Petroleum tankers and chemical tankers have designated hazardous areas around cargo handling equipment, vents, and manifolds where flammable atmospheres may be present. Electrical equipment installed in these zones must be certified to ATEX (or equivalent IECEx) standards.
H Nordic turbines mounted away from ATEX-designated areas -- typically at the superstructure edges and upper deck positions forward of the cargo manifold -- are not in ATEX zones and require no special certification. For positions adjacent to ATEX zones, a zone assessment is conducted as part of the vessel survey.
This does not preclude tanker installations -- it adds a step to the planning process to confirm turbine positions relative to the zone boundaries.
Recreational vessels, fishing vessels, and small workboats are outside scope for the H Nordic maritime product. The economics of the system require commercial operating hours and fuel consumption volumes to achieve the payback periods described -- vessel types that do not meet these thresholds are not the intended application.
See also: How the venturi effect works on vessels · Turbines in heavy weather
Tell us your vessel type and we will confirm compatibility and model the fuel savings for your specific geometry.
Get in touch Read the FAQ