By A cargo ship, equipped with innovative sails, has embarked on its inaugural journey with the primary objective of investigating how wind power can reduce emissions and energy consumption in the shipping industry.
The maritime sector, responsible for nearly 3 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, faces mounting pressure from investors and environmental organizations to expedite its transition to cleaner energy sources. To achieve this, the industry is exploring various technologies, such as ammonia and methanol, to replace the environmentally harmful bunker fuel.
Cargill, one of the world’s leading ship chartering companies, has been actively investigating wind-assisted propulsion as a sustainable energy alternative. Wind propulsion was once a common method for driving ships before the advent of steam and diesel engines but is now mostly used on smaller vessels.
Jan Dieleman, president of Cargill’s ocean transportation division, acknowledged the risks associated with this endeavor. “There is no guarantee that the economics will be favorable,” he stated. “But it is our responsibility to demonstrate to the industry what is achievable and, hopefully, inspire confidence in this technology.”
The Pyxis Ocean, a five-year-old cargo ship, has been retrofitted with WindWings, large wing sails towering up to 37.5 meters (123 feet) in height, securely affixed to its deck. Departing from Singapore and heading to Brazil, the Pyxis Ocean is expected to transport a shipment of grain to Denmark, according to Dieleman.
Owned by Mitsubishi Corp and chartered by Cargill, the Pyxis Ocean holds the distinction of being the first vessel retrofitted with two WindWings, each measuring up to 37.5 meters in height. These innovative sails, designed by the British company BAR Technologies and manufactured in China by Yara Marine Technologies, can be seamlessly integrated into cargo ships’ decks. Cargill estimates that they can reduce a ship’s fuel consumption – and consequently carbon emissions – by as much as 30 percent.
The maiden voyage of the Pyxis Ocean, sailing from China to Brazil, represents the first practical test of this pioneering technology. It offers an opportunity to assess whether a return to traditional wind propulsion could be the path forward for the maritime industry in the pursuit of greener cargo transportation at sea.
