Metalgalante S.p.A.
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company
CAF Data Centre Industry Outlook
Car Mix

twitter Facebook Linkedin acp Contact Us

Modern sails set to revolutionise maritime industry

On an average global route, 1.5 tonnes of fuel can be saved per WindWing per day, with the possibility of saving more on trans ocean routes. (Image source: Cargill)

A new lower-carbon path has been set ahead of the maritime industry with the debut of WindWings, large wing sails measuring up to 45 m in height that bring cutting-edge wind propulsion to commercial shipping

The solution is the work of Cargill and BAR Technologies who partnered to help the maritime industry reduce its GHG production in line with the IMO 2050 targets. WindWings combines wind propulsion with route optimisation and holds the capacity to increase vessel fuel efficiency by 30%. 

Mitsubishi Corporation’s Pyxis Ocean has become the first vessel retrofitted with two WindWings which have been manufactured by industrialisation partner Yara Marine Technologies. After the installation of the wings at the COSCO shipyard in China, the Pyxis Ocean is now conducting its maiden voyage. 

“The maritime industry is on a journey to decarbonise – it's not an easy one, but it is an exciting one,” said Jan Dieleman, president of Cargill’s Ocean transportation business. “At Cargill we have a responsibility to pioneer decarbonising solutions across all our supply chains to meet our customer’s needs and the needs of the planet. A technology like WindWings doesn’t come without risk, and as an industry leader – in partnership with visionary shipowner MC Shipping – we are not afraid to invest, take those risks and be transparent with our learnings to help our partners in maritime transition to a more sustainable future.”

The WindWings project is co-funded by the European Union as part of the CHEK Horizon 2020 initiative and the performance of the sails over the coming months will be closely monitored by associated stakeholders. The results posted by the Pyxis Ocean voyage will be used to inform the scale-up and adoption across Cargill’s fleet and beyond – BAR Technologies is already planning to build hundreds of wings over the next four years. 

John Cooper, CEO of BAR Technologies, remarked, “If international shipping is to achieve its ambition of reducing CO2 emissions, then innovation must come to the fore. Wind is a near marginal cost-free fuel and the opportunity for reducing emissions, alongside significant efficiency gains in vessel operating costs, is substantial. Today is the culmination of years of pioneering research, where we’ve invested in our unique wind sail technology and sought out a skilled manufacturing partner in Yara Marine Technologies, in order to provide vessel owners and operators with an opportunity to realise these efficiencies.”

WindWings is not the only initiative being pioneered to step up sustainable shipping. Find out more at: https://www.africanreview.com/transport-a-logistics/shipping/sustainable-shipping-stepping-up

African Review

Most Read

The Bell team in Richards Bay consists of more than 800 machinists, welders, and assemblers. (Image source: Bell)

GFE Power Product’s extensive range covers generators from 10 kVA up to 3,000 kVA. (Image source: GFE Power Products)

The funding is the largest-ever equity raise in the minigrid industry according to Husk. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The initiative will help African contractors participate in annual infrastructure investments. (Image source: Afreximbank)

ITS has evolved into a sophisticated systems approach, providing numerous opportunities to revolutionise road networks. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Invest International’s Lara Muller; Ivory Coast Minister of Finance and Economy, Adam Coulibaly; and Ambassador Designate to Ivory Coast, Jeroen Kelderhuis. (Image source: Invest International)

Inside Condra’s Johannesburg factory: an overhead crane positions an electric motor during assembly of hoist and crab. (Image source: Condra)

The Yellow Metal Machine Rental team with some Wacker Neuson equipment. (Image source: Wacker Neuson)

The parties will also promote the mutual exchange of information and expertise in the field of export credit policies and practices. (Image source: TBD Group)

Although displaying resilience, the report warns that African banks remain exposed to physical climate risks due to both sovereign and industry lending. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

WAA and VCMI will seek to establish regulatory frameworks to enable access to high integrity and fair voluntary carbon markets for WAA member countries. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

IVECO is renewing its entire product range, all at once. (Image source: IVECO)

Both the IMF and EIU expect SSA to rank as the world’s second fastest growing economy in 2024. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The MoU was signed alongside the Africa Health Business Symposium. (Image source: Africa CDC)

There has been a focus on the sugar industry. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Latest news

According to IRENA, concrete policy actions and massive mobilisation of finance at full speed is required in order to meet the 2030 target. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The HQ is expected to be completed and handed over by February 2025. (Image source: ECOWAS)

Africa’s share of global manufacturing only sits at around 2% today. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

There are numerous but not insurmountable challenges facing Africa's aviation sector, according to IATA. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Africa Energy Forum 2024 was held in the Fira de Montjuïc in Barcelona. (Image source: ACP)

The quality design and manufacture of SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa’s panels and enclosures can be suited to any customer requirement wall mounts. (Image source: SEW-EURODRIVE)

African countries will require over US$45bn in the coming eight years to plug the gap in its transmission systems. (Image source: Synergy Consulting)

BII commits US$75mn to second Green Basket Bond with Symbiotics Investments to finance small-scale green projects in Africa, South, and South-East Asia. (Image source:

Transforming Africa's digital economy: Data Centres powering growth, innovation, and sustainability in the digital era. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The Linnhoff TSD1500 Asphalt Mixing Plant is undertaking crucial work on two rural road projects in Kenya. (Image source: Lintec & Linnhoff)

AI-driven energy-sharing platform will be integrated with ABB energy management technology. (Image source: ABB)

ENGIE Energy Access starts mini-grid construction in Zambia. (Image source: ENGIE Energy Access)

ATIDI and Globeleq boost Kenya’s renewable energy with pioneering geothermal initiative, reinforcing regional sustainability goals.

This partnership aims to enhance sustainable development and advance climate action initiatives throughout the continent. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Orange Energies has aimed to make energy more accessible, becoming a preferred partner for energy producers in regions where half the population lacks electricity. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Genset BuyersGuide
Construction Buyers Guide