Sails News

BAR Technologies, a wind propulsion leader and innovative simulation-driven marine engineering consultancy, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mitsubishi Corporation, and Nihon Shipyard which will set a framework for collaborations between the three businesses following the successful installation of BAR Technologies’ patented wind propulsion system WindWings onto Mitsubishi Corporation’s vessel Pyxis Ocean. Under the terms of the MoU, BAR Technologies, Mitsubishi Corporation…

Odfjell has initiated a deployment of Syroco’s weather routing platform on two of its vessels, the Bow Olympus and Bow Optima.The two vessels are part of Odfjell’s Hudong-class chemical tankers, flying the Norwegian flag. Both built in 2019, the 183 meter vessels are each equipped with 33 stainless steel tanks and operate primarily on trans-Pacific routes.In early 2025, the Bow Olympus will be fitted with four eSAILs, bound4blue’s suction sails. As an add-on to optimise the sails' effects…

Hurtigruten released updated plans for its Sea Zero project, a zero-emission ship scheduled to debut in 2030 which is now in its R&D phase. The ship, as designed today, will lean on large batteries, sails, and other solutions to sail emission-free during normal operation, while energy consumption could be reduced by 40-50%.Hurtigruten announced its Sea Zero project in October 2022, and unveiled its first set of renderings in summer 2023. A second version of renderings are now released…

The Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) represented by BMW Oracle Racing and the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), the Americas Cup defending champion, represented by Team Alinghi were entwined in a 2.5-year legal battle over multiple court cases, including hearings in the New York Supreme Court and the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court, prior to the 33rd edition of the race, due to take place in 2010.The parties disagreed about the location, format, and restrictions on boat design, all of which were changed by the courts prior to the race.

bound4blue and Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) announced today a commercial agreement for the manufacture and installation of four eSAILs on LDC’s chartered juice vessel, MV Atlantic Orchard, in collaboration with Wisby Tankers AB, Sweden (Wisby Tankers).Chartered by LDC and owned by Wisby Tankers, MV Atlantic Orchard will be retrofitted with four 26-meter-high eSAILs. The installation of the eSAILs is planned for 2024 and, depending on vessel routing, is expected to reduce annual…

The French shipyard Chantiers de Atlantique has selected Ingeteam to provide the electric propulsion for the luxury sailing ship Orient Express Silenseas.The ship has solid sails which make it the largest sailing ship in the world. It is one of two vessels that will emulate the famous Orient Express train, enabling more ecological and sustainable navigation via the latest marine technology.The ships belong to Accor Group under the Orient Express brand, and Ingeteam will supply two motors to drive the main propulsion plus the three transverse thrusters…

The first wing sail from Oceanbird, Wing 560, has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from DNV.“It is one of the first stiff wing sails that will tilt in hard winds as a safety feature, that gets an Approval in Principle," said Niclas Dahl, Managing Director, Oceanbird. "Therefore, it is reassuring that DNV supports our safety philosophy since we are now going from vision into realization. In just a few months, we will begin to assemble our first full-scale wing prototypes, which…

Mitsubishi Corporation’s Pyxis Ocean, chartered by Cargill, is the first vessel to be retrofitted with two BAR Tech WindWings.The 37.5 meter sails were produced by Yara Marine Technologies and are expected to generate average fuel savings of up to 30% on new build vessels.The installation of the wings took place at the COSCO shipyard in China and the Pyxis Ocean is now on the water, conducting her maiden voyage.“The maritime industry is on a journey to decarbonize—it's not an easy one, but it is an exciting one,” said Jan Dieleman, President of Cargill’s Ocean transportation business.

Ponant has committed to a unique transoceanic ship design, Swap2Zero, that combines six new energy technologies.The ship is expected to be ready by 2030. Ponant has partnered with naval architect Stirling Design International, and discussions are ongoing to select a shipyard. The sail technology has not yet been decided on, with Ponant considering Ayro Oceanwings or Solid Sail technology.“By 2030, our future ship aims to have zero greenhouse gas emissions when sailing, manoeuvring, in port or at anchor. Her carbon footprint will be reduced throughout her life cycle.

South Korea-based Asia Shipbuilding recently held the keel laying ceremony for hull number ASB – 1245 of the Pacific Island Supply Vessel, an innovative sailing cargo ship for the needs of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.The consortium of Asia Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., and the naval design company Kostec Co., Ltd., last year signed a contract with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH to deliver an innovative sailing cargo ship for the needs…

bound4blue and Oceanking announced a partnership to jointly expand access to the eSAIL technology in Greece and Cyprus. bound4blue provides wind-assisted propulsion technology, and its eSAIL is designed to help reduce fuel consumption and emissions.eSAIL is a suction sail, which combines the positive features of both wingsails (ease of operation, low power consumption, excellent capacity to sail upwind) and flettner rotors (high lift, small size).“We are excited to work with Oceanking in this important shipping business region.

Based in the UK, GT Green Technologies said it secured grant funding from its Department of Transport following this year’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 2 (CDMC2) for the company’s proprietary AirWing propulsion solution, currently in development. Patent-pending, AirWing is designed to help ships reduce emission while retaining a compact size and low-profile stowage functionality to ensure uninhibited loading and unloading of vessel cargo.Available as either a retrofit or newbuild option…

Shofu Maru, the world’s first coal carrier equipped with the Wind Challenger - a hard sail wind power propulsion system - this week made the maiden port of call in Newcastle, Australia. Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) held a ceremony on October 24 to mark the occasion. "The Australian government has set a decarbonization policy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, and local port officials in Newcastle have high expectations and interest in the Shofu Maru, which contributes to decarbonization while transporting energy resources that support people's lives," MOL said.

If shipping is the beating heart of global trade, its pulse is about to get slower. Faced with uncertainty about which fuels to use in the long term to cut greenhouse gas emissions, many shipping firms are sticking with aging fleets, but older vessels may soon have to start sailing slower to comply with new environmental rules.From next year, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) requires all ships to calculate their annual carbon intensity based on a vessel's emissions…

In a new take on ancient technology, Cargill, one of the world's biggest charterers of ships, is to add state-of-the art sails to a vessel early next year to test whether wind power can cut its carbon emissions, a top company executive said.With about 90% of world trade transported by sea, shipping accounts for nearly 3% of the world's CO2 emissions, yet environmental campaigners say efforts by the sector to cut emissions are slow.Leading agri group Cargill will start testing a dry bulk vessel with two wind sails in the first quarter of 2023…

Louis Dreyfus Armateurs said it will equip one of its vessels with three bound4blue’s suction sails in 2023.“We pay particular attention to the decarbonization of all our ships and are taking a proactive approach to study, develop and adopt solutions in this direction," said Kamil Beffa, CEO, Louis Dreyfus Armateurs. "Our ship project management, engineering and innovation teams have been working for more than three years in partnership with bound4blue to implement an innovative and environmentally virtuous solution to assist in the propulsion of our ships.

French tire maker Michelin and Compagnie Maritime Nantaise said on Thursday they will jointly test Michelin's inflatable wing sail this year on a merchant ship for the first time, in a move that may help the shipping industry cut its emissions.The Wing Sail Mobility (WISAMO) project is centered on an inflatable, retractable and automated wing that can be fitted on commercial vessels and pleasure boats, the statement said.Using wind propulsion, it could help save up to 20% of the fuel used per ship…

What: Natural Propulsion in Ship DesignWhen: November 16, 2021Where: Webb Institute, Glen Cove, NY (broadcast live)Hosts: Webb Institute, Marin Institute, and Wind Support NYCA new conference on the use of natural propulsion in the global shipping industry will take place in New York on November 16, 2021, hosted by Webb Institute in Glen Cove, NY, and broadcast live.The conference aims to introduce to the audience the design of hybrid merchant ships capable of harnessing free and renewable energies available onboard – wind…

As the maritime industry strives toward 2050 and strict new emission regulations, driving toward decarbonization, a number of 'future fuels' are emerging that show promise. It is generally agreed that a solution will not be born in a vacuum, with collaboration being the key to meaningful movement. In that regard, this morning, two maritime power players -- Alfa Lava and Wallenius -- announced their intent to form a new 50/50 joint venture called  AlfaWall Oceanbird that will focus…

Sea Cloud Spirit has been delivered to Sea Cloud Cruises from the Vigo, Spain shipyard, and its maiden voyage is set for September 14, 2021, for a 10-night roundtrip Rome to Rome. The plan is to have the ship spend the fall in the Western Mediterranean and the upcoming winter season in the Canary Islands. As cruising makes its return, the new build with a capacity of only 136 guests, is expected to become a nice alternative for younger guests looking for a smaller cruise experience.Sea Cloud Spirit is a modern sailing ship…

Two centuries after the first coal-powered steamships crossed the Atlantic Ocean, a Swedish company is designing a futuristic throwback: a huge, wind-driven cargo ship that could help end the fossil fuel era and limit climate change.Shipping accounted for 2.9% of man-made greenhouse gas in 2018, and the industry’s share of planet-heating emissions has been rising in recent years, according to the U.N.’s International Maritime Organization.One solution may be to turn the clock back to pre-industrial times and again hoist sails to carry cargo around the world.Sweden’s Wallenius Marine AB…