Started with watching penguins
Waud recalls an experience when he took his son to a zoo 20 years ago. “As we watched these elegant creatures in the water, I wondered how it was possible for them to propel themselves so effortlessly. Their movements were like a study in efficiency.” At this point he decided to study fish and sea life to learn more about how they move.
As he began his research project, he discovered that many marine species had amazingly effective and efficient swimming ability. During the next ten years he developed his theories on propulsion, based on what he had first learned from the humble penguin. Evetually he was able to make a fin-propelled model boat.
“I had spent a decade trying to find a practical, viable and scalable design that could be adapted to real vessels; not just model ships on a pond. The first prototype was admittedly simple,” he explains and continues. “By applying what I had learned about propulsion mechanics full scale, I also discovered that it would be possible to reduce fuel consumption considerably. We had a means of propulsion that, like biological propulsion, does no harm to the environment. At the same time, emissions would be significantly lower. The result was an environmentally-sound propulsion system.”
The research takes a new turn
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics presented the Orcelle
model at the World Expo in Japan in 2005. This event marked a new turn for Mr Waud’s research. He was inspired by WWL’s concept vessel designed to operate solely on wind, solar and wave energy.
He then contacted the designers at Wilhelmsen Marine Consulting to discuss his ideas. “Three years later, when Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics won the International Thor Heyerdal award for its environmental achievements and established the Orcelle Fund, I applied for and was fortunate enough to be given a grant to continue develop my project.”
The grant will make it possible for Peter Waud to secure a proper testing environment for his model in conjunction with a university in Perth, Australia.
“With the financial assistance I received from the fund I will be able to carry out a thorough scientific evaluation of the concept, produce the necessary technical details and prove that my idea is commercially viable,” concludes Peter Waud.
About the Orcelle Fund
Established in 2007, after WWL (owned 50/50 by Wilh. Wilhelmsen and Wallenius Lines) won the Thor Heyerdahl International Environmental Award. Supports the development of alternative energy initiatives aimed at making shipping more sustainable. Administrated by WWL, the fund is chaired by WWL who also has one board member in additionto two board members from Wilh. Wilhelmsen and Wallenius Lines