Grieg Maritime Group has signed a contract with UK company GT Wings to install two AirWing 20 Jet Sails on one of Grieg’s K-class general cargo vessels.
The company sees energy efficiency as being crucial for both climate action and commercial success going forward: waiting for new fuels and new ships will not be enough to succeed; measures must also be implemented on the existing fleet.
Grieg Star Technical Project Manager Marte Waage Haga said: “While substantial savings are possible, the actual impact is determined by the vessel’s trade pattern.”
The GT Wings AirWing 20 wind assisted propulsion system (WAPS) uses jet sail technology, and is expected to enable the vessel Star Kirkenes to take advantage of wind power, significantly reducing fuel consumption.
Grieg Maritime Group CEO Matt Duke added: “Reducing our fuel consumption will always make sense. Our technical team has spent months assessing different wind-assisted propulsion solutions. Upon seeing GT Wings’ technology, they were immediately intrigued. We are confident in their assessment and look forward to seeing our first ship with Jet Sails.”
The AirWing was selected for its high thrust output and compact footprint, representing a new generation of Jet Sail technology designed to deliver high performance in space-constrained applications. The contract between Grieg Maritime Group and GT Wings is for two jet sails on Star Kirkenes, with an option to do the same on the other three K-class vessels.
Liam Campbell, CCO, GT Wings, said: “The global wind assisted fleet is entering a major growth phase, with forecasts showing more than 80 additional vessels in operation by the end of 2026. Our partnership with Grieg Maritime Group, our first commercial order, is a key step in our growth strategy. With industrial scale manufacturing now established in Nantong and Europe, we’re ready to meet rising demand and deliver high quality equipment on time and at scale.”
The design of the AirWing makes it possible to install two such jet sails on the forecastle of Star Kirkenes, as shown in the image. The sails will not interfere with the ship’s cargo operations or capacity. The installation will be carried out during drydocking towards the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027.
The project marks the second full-scale AirWing vessel installation and is considered a key step in GT Wings’ scaling of commercial deployment. It also builds on recent strategic investment from Grieg Kapital, strengthening alignment between both organisations.
George Thompson, CEO, GT Wings, concluded: “We’re delighted to be working closely with Grieg Maritime Group on this project and supporting their ambitions to lead on sustainable shipping. This collaboration marks an important milestone as we move into commercial deployment, continue to validate AirWing at scale, and demonstrate how wind propulsion can be deployed reliably across modern commercial fleets, delivering not only emissions reductions but also reducing exposure to volatile fuel prices, an increasingly important priority for shipowners.”
Image: Rendering of two AirWings on ‘Star Kirkenes’ (source: GT Wings)
