Pyxis Ocean Loads 22,000 Tons of Corn in Bahía Blanca Using Wind-Assisted Sails
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The vessel Pyxis Ocean, one of the bulk carriers that has incorporated wind assistance into commercial shipping, once again called at the port of Bahía Blanca. It loaded around 22,000 tons of corn at Terminal Bahía Blanca bound for Malaysia, using its two large metal sails to harness wind power and reduce fuel consumption during the voyage.
How the metal sails work
The Pyxis Ocean has an overall length of 229 meters and is fitted with two rigid sails called WindWings, developed by BAR Technologies, each about 37.5 meters tall. They work similarly to a wing, harnessing wind flow to generate a force that supplements conventional propulsion. Sensors automatically adjust their orientation, and the structures can be folded down to facilitate port operations; the energy contribution varies depending on weather conditions and the route.
Track record at Argentine ports
This is not the first time the vessel has operated in the country with this technology. In June 2024 it had loaded 28,500 tons of corn bound for South Korea at Bahía Blanca, at the Cargill site, after loading another 45,000 tons of the same grain at Punta Alvear, within the Gran Rosario hub. In early 2026 it also carried out a shipment of 35,000 tons of wheat for Vietnam from Punta Quebracho, in Puerto San Martín. With this latest operation, Malaysia joins the Asian destinations for its cargoes of Argentine grain.
Origin and performance of the WindWings system
The WindWings sails were developed by BAR Technologies together with Cargill and MC Shipping, as part of a strategy to cut shipping emissions driven by the International Maritime Organization's decarbonization targets. Since setting sail in August 2023, the Pyxis Ocean has completed three voyages crossing the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans, achieving an average saving of 11 tons of carbon dioxide per day of navigation, according to measurements close to BAR Technologies' predictions.
Impact for agricultural exports
According to Puertos y Comercio Argentina, the operation reinforces the strategic importance of Bahía Blanca within Argentina's export chain and helps reduce operating costs and the environmental footprint of grain transport. The outlet also noted that the trend toward wind-assisted shipping could continue to grow and inspire other commercial fleets to adopt similar technologies.
