Wind-powered mast to cut emissions tested at sea

A cargo ship traveling from England to Canada is testing a new wind-powered propulsion system called AirWing, designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. The AirWing works like a giant vertical airplane wing, using internal fans to accelerate wind and propel the ship. Estimated savings could reach $1,000 per day, with additional cost reductions from environmental regulations like CII, FuelEU, and ETS.

Simon Merritt, fleet manager, Carisbrooke Shipping said "During the feasibility phase of this project, we calculated just over 8 percent fuel savings. However, this ship trades on transatlantic voyages between Europe and Canada, and we hope that to harness more wind on these longer voyages with stronger wind conditions, and ultimately, we hope to achieve 10 percent savings on this vessel."

The installation of the 50-ton system required adjustments to the ship’s stability, but it won't impact cargo operations. The ship's speed and efficiency will be tested to determine whether slowing down or increasing performance yields the best results.