Size reduction for BAR Technologies’ WindWings promises more use

BAR Technologies has expanded its WindWings portfolio with the launch of new 20m and 24m models, designed to save 0.7 tonnes of fuel per day on average, on worldwide shipping routes.

WindWings allow a ship to harness wind power, meaning the engine can be powered down to use less fuel while travelling at the same speed as a conventional bulker.

BAR Technologies says these new WindWings models, which can be fitted to smaller vessels, will make wind-assisted propulsion (WAP) technology accessible to a wider range of vessels, including handysize bulkers, chemical tankers and other smaller ships. Thus, its target fleet size is effectively increased by nearly 50 per cent.

“The incredible success of our 37.5m WindWings model has proven that wind-assisted propulsion is now a validated and trusted solution for increasing fuel savings and reducing emissions in international shipping,” says John Cooper, CEO of BAR Technologies. Earlier this year, Union Maritime committed to equipping 34 of its newbuild tankers with wind propulsion and announced an investment in BAR Technologies.

“The expansion of our WindWings offering is a direct response to the growing demand from shipowners who have seen first-hand their environmental and economic benefits, as they work to achieve the IMO’s emissions reductions targets. With these new models, we are making this technology accessible to an even wider range of vessels, ensuring that more of the global fleet can contribute to the crucial goal of decarbonisation.”

Weighing less than 30 tonnes, the new ranges are cited as ‘simple’ to fit on both newbuilds and retrofits, and will be manufactured in China and Spain from 2025, aligning with the growing global demand driven by regulatory measures such as the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), with similar policies anticipated in South Korea and Turkey.

Working directly with shipyards and shipowners, the introduction of the new models is said to be responding to the needs of the market, particularly for those with mixed fleets that include smaller vessels.

BAR Technologies says some of its existing customers have already exspressed interest in adopting the new models for their current fleets. Several customers are now in advanced discussions to integrate these new models – with announcements scheduled for the coming months.

WindWings’ fuel-saving capabilities were first independently validated by DNV-Maritime in May 2024. Their deployment on vessels such as the Pyxis Ocean and Berge Olympus has already demonstrated a 32 per cent reduction in energy use per nautical mile. With the International Maritime Organization’s 2030 target of reducing GHG emissions from international shipping by 20-30 per cent only 5.5 years away, WindWings believes its products are are now essential for helping shipowners achieve these goals.