Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and maritime software provider NAPA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on eco-efficient vessel design and operations.
The partnership focuses on conducting performance analysis based on actual operational data for vessels equipped with the SAVER Wing, a rigid two-element wing sail developed by SHI.
Installed on the deck of a vessel, the propulsion technology generates additional thrust by utilising wind energy. By applying the aerodynamic principles of aircraft wings, the system converts wind energy into forward thrust to reduce the engine power required for propulsion, lowering fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
By modelling the performance of the vessel design under specific voyage and weather conditions using real operational data, SHI aims to offer shipowners accurate efficiency projections during the early design stages to assist with decarbonisation planning and investments.
“Being able to model a specific design against real operating conditions, early in the process, is a genuine advantage. We chose NAPA because they have the tools, design expertise and data legacy to do this well,” said Hyun Joe Kim, Executive Vice President at Samsung Heavy Industries.
The agreement also outlines plans to integrate NAPA Voyage Optimisation into the Samsung Autonomous Ship (SAS) platform, embedding fuel-efficient routing directly into vessel operations. The decision-support tool allows operators to simulate and assess routes and speed profiles, dynamically adjusting courses to leverage wind conditions.
Additionally, SHI plans to utilise NAPA Operational Simulation to implement digital twins of ship equipment, allowing for efficiency verification from the initial design phase. The broader framework expands upon a joint project initiated in May 2026 that focused specifically on the SAVER Wing designs.
“Shipowners are being asked to make multi-million, multi-year capital commitments without enough information on what this investment actually looks like. With this partnership, SHI will be able to answer shipowners’ questions and show exactly how their SAVER Wing solution will perform at sea,” said Pekka Pakkanen, Executive Vice President, Shipping Solutions, at NAPA.
