The global shipping industry is currently experiencing a tough time due to the sluggish market situation and the oversupply of tonnage. Also, more stringent regulations on exhaust emissions have generated a significant impact on the already delicate market. Leadership in costs is one of the classic strategies to succeed in a competitive environment. Fuel is one of the most important items in the budget to consider when moving cargo across the oceans. However, up to now, there are just a few ships equipped with wind-assisted technologies to reduce fuel expenditures. Positioned in an interdisciplinary framework, this study aims to increase knowledge and understanding about the utilisation of Flettner rotors and parafoil as alternative sources of power to propel merchant vessels. To achieve this purpose, this research draws on data, information, techniques and theories from a variety of sources in both public domain and private databases. The TERA simulation of a parafoil system and Flettner rotors system assisting a 60,000 DWT bulker carrier under different wind patterns was presented. Based on the existing knowledge and scholarship, and the primary data gathered by interviews and questionnaire survey, this paper intends to critically examine the economic benefits derived from the use of two alternative propulsion systems.

由于市场低迷和吨位供过于求，全球航运业目前正处于艰难时期。此外，更严格的废气排放法规对本已脆弱的市场产生了重大影响。成本领先是在竞争环境中取得成功的经典策略之一。在跨洋运输货物时，燃料是预算中最重要的项目之一。然而，到目前为止，只有少数船舶配备了风力辅助技术来减少燃料支出。本研究位于跨学科框架中，旨在增加关于利用 Flettner 转子和翼伞作为推动商船的替代动力来源的知识和理解。为实现这一目的，本研究利用数据、信息、来自公共领域和私人数据库中各种来源的技术和理论。介绍了在不同风力模式下辅助 60,000 DWT 散货船的翼伞系统和 Flettner 转子系统的 TERA 模拟。基于现有的知识和学术，以及通过访谈和问卷调查收集的原始数据，本文拟对两种替代推进系统的使用产生的经济效益进行批判性研究。