The DeWaTra COST Action (CA23159) is organising an online webinar dedicated to wind-assisted technologies and their contribution to improving ship energy efficiency.
The webinar will take place on 13 October 2026, from 10:00 to 11:30 CET, within the framework of Working Group 4: Renewable Energy Contributions to Ship Energy Efficiency.
As the maritime sector continues to explore solutions for reducing fuel consumption and emissions, wind-assisted propulsion is attracting increasing attention from researchers, technology providers and ship operators. This webinar will bring together specialists from academia, research and industry to discuss current developments in wing-sail design, the expansion of the wind-powered shipping fleet and the use of operational data to evaluate rotor-sail performance.
Webinar programme
Bayesian Optimization and Genetic Algorithms in Aerodynamic and Structural Wing-Sail Design, MSc Stephan van Reen
Stephan van Reen represents the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Division of Marine Technology, at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. His presentation will address the application of Bayesian optimization and genetic algorithms to the aerodynamic and structural design of wing sails.
100+ Wind-Powered Ships and Counting: Where We Stand, and Where Research Is Heading, Dr Frederik Gerhardt
Dr Frederik Gerhardt represents the Maritime Department of RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB in Gothenburg, Sweden. His presentation will provide an overview of the growing number of wind-powered ships, the sector’s current position and the directions in which research is developing.
Data-Driven Insights into Rotor-Sail System Performance with Sentient Control, MSc Jarkko Väinämö
Jarkko Väinämö represents Norsepower in Helsinki, Finland. His presentation will focus on the use of data-driven insights and Sentient Control to evaluate and improve rotor-sail system performance.
Event details
Date: 13 October 2026
Time: 10:00–11:30 CET
Format: Online via Microsoft Teams
Participants can access the webinar through the following link:
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/346313501748732?p=MQ9fbRPjSQxWNn7et9
The webinar is organised under the leadership of Professor Jonas W. Ringsberg, DEWATRA WG4 Leader from Chalmers University of Technology, and Dr Çağlar Karatuğ, WG4 Vice-Leader from Istanbul Technical University.
For questions regarding the webinar, please contact Professor Jonas W. Ringsberg at Jonas.Ringsberg@chalmers.se.