Wind-Powered Shipping Mast Sets Sail from England to Canada

A revolutionary rigid shipping mast has embarked on its first voyage, utilizing wind power to propel a cargo ship from England to Canada while significantly reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

After a demanding night of preparations, George Thompson, founder of GT Wings, returned to the main deck to oversee the 20-meter-high mast developed by his startup.

“We’ve barely had any sleep over the past few days,” Thompson told AFP, observing shipyard workers in helmets and high-visibility vests making final adjustments before departure.

Advanced Wind Propulsion

GT Wings product manager Martin Harrop highlighted the mast’s cutting-edge design, calling it “very high-tech.” Positioned at the ship’s bow in Hull, northeastern England, the structure operates similarly to a vertical airplane wing, harnessing wind energy to propel the vessel. What sets it apart are its internal fans, which accelerate airflow, further boosting propulsion.

Inspiration from America’s Cup and Formula 1

Thompson, a sailing enthusiast, saw a market gap for a compact, high-thrust wind propulsion system.

His three-year-old company has since secured funding from private investors and the British government, which contributed £3.7 million ($4.8 million) through its maritime decarbonization initiative.

GT Wings now has a team of nine experts, including professionals from the America’s Cup sailing competition and Formula 1 racing.

“The aerodynamics behind the America’s Cup and the technology from Formula 1 play a huge role in what we’re doing,” Thompson explained.

Building the system within 12 months was a challenge. The project required modifying the ship’s structure with nine tonnes of steel, installing over 7.5 kilometers (4.5 miles) of electrical wiring, and integrating the AirWing while ensuring it didn’t interfere with operations.

“We had to work within a very small footprint at the ship’s bow,” said Simon Merritt from Carisbrooke Shipping, which operates the Vectis Progress cargo ship. To compensate for visibility issues, the team installed navigational cameras, a bow radar system, and navigation lights.

Fuel Savings and Future Potential

During initial tests, the company achieved an eight percent reduction in fuel usage and is aiming for up to 10 percent savings.

Given the ship’s transatlantic route between Europe and Canada, the team hopes to harness stronger winds on these longer journeys.

Carisbrooke estimates that fuel savings could amount to nearly $1,000 per day, depending on fuel prices.

Currently, only around 80 ships worldwide use this type of wind propulsion technology, Thompson noted.

However, new European regulations requiring reduced carbon intensity in shipping could drive broader adoption of innovations like the AirWing.

The International Maritime Organization aims for carbon neutrality in maritime transport by 2050 and is set to introduce new measures in April to support this goal.

“The industry was slow to adapt,” said Lise Detrimont of the Wind Ship association, which promotes wind power in shipping. “But wind-based solutions are expected to double in number every year in the coming years.”