Italian ship manager Topic, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding and OceanWings have completed the installation of an OceanWings rigid wingsail aboard the Ultramax bulk carrier ‘Maria Topic’.
Retrofitted at Tsuneishi Shipbuilding in Japan, the vessel now returns to commercial service, marking a milestone in OceanWings’ commercial deployment and in the adoption of wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS) for merchant shipping.
The successful retrofit is said to demonstrate that rigid wingsail technology can be successfully integrated into an operating merchant vessel. By upgrading an existing bulk carrier, the project highlights the role retrofit solutions can play in reducing fuel consumption and GHG emissions across today’s fleet. The project demonstrates the production, delivery, and installation capabilities of the project partners for deploying WAPS solutions to the dry bulk market.
The successful retrofit of Maria Topic reflects the shared commitment of Topic, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding and OceanWings in accelerating the decarbonisation of commercial shipping.
Alex Albertini, CEO, Topic, said: “Maria Topic follows Paolo Topic in our journey towards more sustainable shipping. By adding wind-assisted propulsion to an existing bulk carrier, we are continuing to invest in practical technologies that reduce fuel consumption and emissions across our fleet. OceanWings and Tsuneishi Shipbuilding demonstrated a strong understanding of our operational requirements, allowing the retrofit to be completed within the dry dock period.”
Nakai Toshifumi, Managing Executive Officer, Chief Ship Repair Officer, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding, added: “We are proud to have completed this landmark retrofit alongside OceanWings and Topic. The project demonstrates that wind-assisted propulsion can be efficiently integrated into an existing vessel using Tsuneishi Shipbuilding’s ship repair and retrofit expertise, helping accelerate the transition towards more energy-efficient shipping. We are committed to contributing to the industry’s decarbonisation by leveraging our ship repair and retrofit expertise to bring innovative technologies into practical service.”
Emmanuel Schalit, CEO OceanWings, said: “Maria Topic is the latest proof that our technology is delivering where it matters most: in commercial operation. We designed OceanWings to be simple, robust and adapted to the realities of bulk shipping. This project marks an important industrial milestone for OceanWings, demonstrating our ability to manufacture, deliver and deploy our technology at commercial scale.”
The retrofit of Maria Topic was carried out with the support of the European WHISPER (wind energy harvesting for ship propulsion assistance and power) project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme. WHISPER brings together 13 partners from six European countries to develop and validate modular retrofit solutions combining WAPS and renewable onboard energy systems, accelerating the decarbonisation of commercial shipping.
Image: ‘Maria Topic’ (credit: OceanWings)
