Wind propulsion 

Traditional ship propulsion systems combine propulsion machinery with auxiliary systems to produce the power needed for thrust.  

In contrast, wind propulsion systems directly harness wind energy to generate propulsive thrust without relying on engines. This helps shipowners save on fuel costs and meet decarbonization goals.  

Two types of wind propulsion can be used onboard ships:  

• Assisted propulsion: the ship uses wind propulsion to supplement its main propulsion system, improving energy efficiency.  

• Main propulsion: the ship relies primarily on wind power for propulsion. Under ideal sailing conditions, its propulsive energy would come directly from the wind propulsion system.

Wind propulsion holds many advantages over traditional propulsion systems.  

Implementing wind propulsion systems can offer economic benefits for shipowners and operators. Although the upfront installation cost can be high, operating costs decrease once systems are fully functional due to reduced fuel consumption.  

Wind propulsion systems also help shipowners meet their decarbonization targets by reducing carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx) and sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions.  

Additionally, wind power helps minimize engine vibrations, limiting underwater radiated noise, which can harm the ocean ecosystem. 

There is a wide range of wind propulsion systems on the market. These systems can be categorized into two types: 

• Active systems require external energy for thrust generation. This includes rotor sails and suction wing sails. 

• Passive systems rely solely on wind energy for thrust generation. This includes wing sails, sailing rigs and kite sails. 

   

Many of these technologies make use of automation, tilting systems, explosion-proof equipment, anti-icing techniques, weather routing or energy management, offering a range of options for equipping ships with wind propulsion capabilities.