Wallenius Marine has ordered two wing sails from Oceanbird for installation on the car carrier Way Forward in 2027, marking
Wallenius Marine has ordered two wing sails from Oceanbird for installation on the car carrier Way Forward in 2027, marking the company’s first commercial use of wind-assisted propulsion.
The system is expected to further improve the vessel’s energy efficiency while providing operational data on the use of wind propulsion in commercial shipping. Way Forward is already rated A under the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and features an optimized hull design and dual-fuel propulsion system capable of using liquid and gaseous fuels, including biofuels. The wing sails will add wind-assisted propulsion to the vessel’s existing energy-efficiency measures.
We are convinced that wind propulsion will play an important role in the future of shipping
… said Johan Mattsson, CEO of Wallenius Marine. He added that installing the wing sails would allow the company to gain practical experience while taking “another step towards reducing emissions” from its fleet.
The project is also supported by Volkswagen Konzernlogistik, which charters the vessel. Peter Hörndlein, Head of Vehicle Logistics Overseas, said Way Forward demonstrates how customers and shipping companies can work together on “more energy-efficient solutions.”
Oceanbird CEO Amrit Kaur Bhullar highlighted that the company was pleased to see wind propulsion gaining momentum among both shipowners and charterers, describing Wallenius and Volkswagen Konzernlogistik as helping to drive the transition to lower-emission shipping.
Content Original Link:
" target="_blank">
