Lymington firm Humphreys Yacht Design to benefit from Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition cash for Smart Green Shipping's Winds of Change project FastRig

AN eco-conscious maritime design firm from Lymington is set to benefit from a £60m government scheme.

Humphreys Yacht Design is the principal architect for Smart Green Shipping's Winds of Change project, developing wind-powered propulsion for commercial vessels.

The firm has designed the FastRig system, a 20-metre-high retractable and recyclable rigid wing sail designed to be retrofitted to ships with enough space for the tech on deck.

It is one of 19 projects to benefit from the government's Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, which has been set aside for schemes developing green shipping solutions.

Humphreys founder Rob Humphreys said: “This project has been a collaboration looking into the power of possibilities and decarbonising commercial shipping.

"Whilst our involvement began on a somewhat different project, the overriding outcomes are the same, effectively harnessing the power of wind to optimise efficiencies.”

It is the latest cash boost for FastRig, which secured nearly £6.5m in investment and grants in recent months.

Smart Green Shipping CEO Diane Gilpin said: "I’m thrilled that the UK is demonstrating ongoing faith in our FastRig technology, which holds the key to rapidly reducing emissions from shipping.

“Climate science is clear that shipping must rapidly reduce emissions in the short term.

"Wind power, harnessed using sophisticated digital software and well-engineered equipment, is at present the fastest way for the sector to reduce fuel consumption and related emissions.”

About 40,000 shipping vessels currently in use are estimated to be suitable for wind-tech systems such as FastRig.

Humphreys Yacht Design, at Blake's Yard on New Street, was founded by Rob in 1974. The firm designs racing sailboats, production yachts, superyachts and commercial vessels.