BOSSES at Peel Ports have shed more light on the innovative new technology that saw a ship built for the transport of nuclear fuel pay a visit to Greenock.

As reported by the Tele yesterday, the Pacific Grebe, owned by Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited (PNTL), sailed into the Ocean Terminal's pontoon on Monday. 

Peel Ports revealed that the ship, which usually carries nuclear fuel, stopped off at Greenock as part of sea trials to showcase the FastRig 'wing sails' system.

READ MORE: Nuclear fuel carrier is latest ship to call in at Greenock Ocean Terminal

The wind-assisted technology is being developed in a bid to reduce the harmful emissions generated by global shipping.

FastRig, manufactured by Smart Green Shipping, underwent five months of land-based trials at Hunterston before being introduced to the waves. 

Smart Green Shipping hopes that the sea trials will corroborate research carried out by experts at the University of Southampton which predicts that using FastRig on transatlantic routes will produce fuel and greenhouse gas savings of up to 30 per cent per year.

Pacific Grebe berthed at the Greenock Ocean Terminal on Monday. (Image: George Munro)  Peel Ports said Pacific Grebe stopping off in Greenock allowed project partners, the Scottish Government, ship owners, and financiers the opportunity to see the technology in action.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, said FastRig will help to create 'good green jobs and wealth for Scotland'. 

He added: "Global shipping emits around three per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions, and emissions from the sector are still rising.

"This is a global export opportunity for Scotland that will enable a hard-to-decarbonise sector to deploy powerful, close-to-market technology that saves money and fuel costs."

Independently verified performance data gained from the sea trials will allow Smart Green Shipping to predict cost savings with FastRig technology on any suitable ship, and on any route. 

The Department for Transport estimates that up to 40,000 ships worldwide are suitable for wind-powered propulsion.

Pacific Grebe has been chartered for trials of the innovative technology. (Image: Big Partnership) Diane Gilpin, CEO of Smart Green Shipping, said: "At Smart Green Shipping we understand that the world is at a critical climate juncture and we must play our role in driving down emissions in shipping.

"It's imperative that we shift from a conventional fuel-dominated business-as-usual approach and embrace this abundantly available direct energy source.

"Wind-assist solutions are key to reducing shipping emissions in line with science.

"Scotland has been an integral part of our journey to develop Smart Green Shipping's technology and we will continue to collaborate with its high-quality manufacturing and engineering expertise as we go to scale production."