Wallenius has ordered two wing sails from Oceanbird for installation in 2027 on the car carrier ‘Way Forward’, marking the company’s first commercial use of wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS).
Way Forward already holds the highest (A) CII rating. The addition of wing sails is expected to further improve the vessel’s energy efficiency while generating valuable operational data on WAPS in commercial service. According to Wallenius, the initiative reflects the company’s ambition to turn promising technologies into practical solutions for everyday shipping operations.
Johan Mattsson, CEO Wallenius Marine, said: “We are convinced that wind propulsion will play an important role in the future of shipping. By fitting wing sails to the Way Forward, we can gain practical experience whilst taking another step towards reducing emissions from our fleet.”
Way Forward is designed to minimise energy consumption through an optimised hull design and a dual-fuel propulsion system capable of operating on both liquid and gaseous fuels, including biofuels. The wing sails add another component to the vessel’s energy-efficiency strategy.
Mattsson added: “The installation will provide valuable insights into how wind propulsion can be integrated into future vessel designs and day-to-day operations. The lessons learned will support the development of even more energy-efficient ships.”
Peter Hörndlein, Head of Vehicle Logistics Overseas, Volkswagen Konzernlogistik, said: “For many years, Volkswagen Konzernlogistik has been working consistently to reduce emissions across its logistics operations. Way Forward – with her future-proof dual-fuel propulsion system – demonstrates how customers and shipping companies can work together to advance more energy-efficient solutions. By testing wing sails, we are contributing to the development of more sustainable vehicle logistics.”
Amrit Kaur Bhullar, CEO Oceanbird, said: “We, at Oceanbird, are delighted to see wind propulsion solutions gaining momentum not only among shipowners, but also with charterers. Wallenius, one of our owners, has long been a pioneer in sustainable shipping, and we are proud to be installing our technology on one of their vessels. Forward-thinking companies such as Wallenius and Volkswagen are helping drive the transition to truly green shipping, and we are honoured to play a role in that journey.”
Image: Visualisation of wing sails on ‘Way Forward’ (credit: Knud E Hansen)
