Tsuneishi and OceanWings complete Maria Topic retrofit

Topic, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding and OceanWings have completed the installation of a rigid, tiltable wingsail aboard the Ultramax bulk carrier Maria Topic.

Tsuneishi Shipbuilding retrofitted the vessel with the OceanWings system at its facilities in Japan. Maria Topic will now return to commercial service.

The project marks a milestone in OceanWings’ commercial deployment and the wider adoption of wind-assisted propulsion in merchant shipping.

Wind-assisted propulsion for existing vessels

The retrofit demonstrates how operators can integrate rigid wingsail technology into an existing commercial vessel.

By upgrading an operating bulk carrier, the project also highlights the potential role of retrofits in reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions across the current fleet.

In addition, the project demonstrates the partners’ ability to produce, deliver and install wind-assisted ship propulsion systems for the dry bulk sector.

“Maria Topic follows Paolo Topic in our journey towards more sustainable shipping. By adding wind-assisted propulsion to an existing bulk carrier, we are continuing to invest in practical technologies that reduce fuel consumption and emissions across our fleet,” said Alex Albertini, CEO of Topic.

“OceanWings and Tsuneishi Shipbuilding demonstrated a strong understanding of our operational requirements, allowing the retrofit to be completed within the dry dock period,” he added.

Commercial deployment of OceanWings

“We are proud to have completed this landmark retrofit alongside OceanWings and Topic. The project demonstrates that wind-assisted propulsion can be efficiently integrated into an existing vessel using Tsuneishi Shipbuilding’s ship repair and retrofit expertise, helping accelerate the transition towards more energy-efficient shipping,” said Nakai Toshifumi, Managing Executive Officer and Chief Ship Repair Officer at Tsuneishi Shipbuilding.

“We are committed to contributing to the industry’s decarbonisation by leveraging our ship repair and retrofit expertise to bring innovative technologies into practical service,” he added.

“Maria Topic is the latest proof that our technology is delivering where it matters most: in commercial operation. We designed OceanWings to be simple, robust and adapted to the realities of bulk shipping,” said Emmanuel Schalit, CEO of OceanWings.

“This project marks an important industrial milestone for OceanWings, demonstrating our ability to manufacture, deliver and deploy our technology at commercial scale,” he added.

OceanWings and Topic will present their first operational insights at SMM Hamburg in September 2026. The presentation will provide an initial assessment of the vessel’s performance in commercial service.

The European WHISPER project supported the Maria Topic retrofit. The European Union funds the Wind Energy Harvesting for Ship Propulsion Assistance and Power project through its Horizon Europe programme.

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