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Wallenius has ordered two wing sails from Oceanbird for installation on the car carrier vessel MV Way Forward in 2027, marking the company's first commercial use of wind-assisted propulsion.
The Way Forward already boasts the highest Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) rating, A. The addition of rigid sails is expected to further enhance the vessel's energy efficiency, while also generating valuable operational data on wind-assisted propulsion in commercial service.
According to Johan Mattsson, CEO of Wallenius Marine, the initiative reflects the company's ambition to transform promising technologies into practical solutions for everyday maritime operations.
"We are convinced that wind propulsion will play a significant role in the future of shipping. By equipping the Way Forward with rigid sails, we can gain practical experience while taking another step towards reducing emissions from our fleet," said Mattsson.
The Way Forward is designed to minimize energy consumption through an optimized hull design and a dual-fuel propulsion system capable of running on liquid and gaseous fuels, including biofuels. The rigid sails add another component to the vessel's energy efficiency strategy.
"The installation will provide valuable insights into how to integrate wind propulsion into future vessel designs and daily operations. The lessons learned will contribute to the development of even more energy-efficient ships," added Mattsson.
Peter Hörndlein, Head of Overseas Vehicle Logistics at Volkswagen Konzernlogistik, shares this view. "For many years, Volkswagen Konzernlogistik has consistently worked to reduce emissions across all its logistics operations. The Way Forward, with its future-proof DualFuel propulsion system, demonstrates how customers and shipping companies can collaborate to drive more energy-efficient solutions. By testing the wing sails, we contribute to the development of more sustainable vehicle logistics," he noted.
Amrit Kaur Bhullar, CEO of Oceanbird, has a positive outlook on advancements in wind-powered shipping. "We are pleased to see that wind propulsion solutions are gaining traction not only among shipowners but also among charterers. Wallenius, one of our shipowners, has been a pioneer in sustainable shipping, and we are proud to install our technology on one of their vessels," she said.
"Forward-thinking companies like Wallenius and Volkswagen Konzernlogistik are driving the transition to truly green shipping, and we are honored to be part of this process," added the CEO of Oceanbird.
