Wind4Fryslân

Wind4Fryslân – Wind in the Sails for the Frisian Maritime Sector

On 21 November, we will officially launch the scaling-up phase of wind propulsion technologies at Staalbedrijf Nauta in Heeg, part of the TruSteel Group. The event marks an important milestone in the project W4S as an important project objective to strengthen the role of  wind-assisted ship propulsion North-West Europe. 

Econowind – Stand of Affairs and Outlook

Econowind will present the current state of development of wind propulsion systems, including the progress made with the first full-scale steel. The presentation will address both technical developments and market perspectives, followed by an open Q&A.

Frisian Value Chain

We will explore also how the Frisian value chain is positioning itself within the international market for wind propulsion. The Frisian maritime and steelworking sectors are closely involved in the production and installation of WIng-Sails. W4S Project partners such as Bijlsma Marine Services, Boomsma Shipping  play a central role in this regional collaboration. 

Robot Lines – Opportunities and Limitations

A key challenge in scaling up Wing-Sails production is automation. While the first prototypes required intensive manual work, future production aims for robotised and modular manufacturing. This session discusses the technological and organisational opportunities—and the current limitations—of creating a fully automated production line in Fryslân.

Panel Discussion and Networking

A moderated panel, led by Renate Kuivenhoven, will bring together experts from industry, government, and education to discuss the future of wind propulsion in the maritime sector. 

The session will conclude with networking opportunities for businesses interested in joining this innovation-driven ecosystem.

Registration is required. Please register using the link below. On 21 November from 14:30 onwards, guests are welcome at Staalbedrijf Nauta in Heeg.

REGISTRATION

Program:

• From 14:30: Welcome reception. At 15:00, the program starts with a welcome by Mr. Booi from Nauta Heeg.

• Presentation by Mr. Nieuwenhuis, CTO of Econowind: He will talk about the VentoFoils and the scaling up of production, including the development of a Frisian supplier cluster.

• Update by Mr. Boomsma (TBC) from Boomsma Shipping: Insights on applying wings at sea and future developments.

• Willem Barends Institute: Presentation on sailing ships with wind propulsion and all associated aspects.

• Friesland at the heart of European shipping: Tjeerd Bijlsma from Bijlsma Marine Service (TBC) will share plans for a Turn-Key HUB in Harlingen, Friesland, where ships can install wings during a pit-stop.

• Around 16:15: Deputy Douwstra will unveil the XL-wing Grutte Pier, together with a few Lytse Pieren.

• From 17:00: Networking drink. This is an opportunity to discuss key topics where your input is needed, which we will gather and follow up on.

Key discussion themes:

• Harlingen HUB – Turn-Key wing installation

• Opportunities for composites

• Opportunities for steel and aluminum

• Robotics and AI in production

• Knowledge sharing, WASP, and cluster development

• The program ends around 18:00.