Giant Ship With 557 m² Adjustable Sail Wing Promises to Cut Fuel Use by Up to 18% and Is Set for Installation in 2027 in Europe

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 14/02/2026 at 10:13

Updated on 14/02/2026 at 10:14

Enorme asa de vela inclinável de 6.000 pés quadrados (aproximadamente 557 m²) para proporcionar uma economia de combustível de 10%.

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First Order of the Wing 560 Sails, 557 m² Marks Start of Commercial Production of Oceanbird, With Installation Planned for 2027 in Europe and Potential Fuel Savings of Up to 18% and Reduction of 111 Tons of CO2 on Specific Routes

The Oceanbird announced its first order for two units of the tiltable Wing 560 sail, measuring 557 m², with installation scheduled for early 2027 in Europe, promising fuel savings of up to 18% on specific routes.

Oceanbird Secures First Order of the Tiltable Wing 560 Sail

Oceanbird, a joint venture between Alfa Laval and Wallenius Lines, announced on February 13 that it has received the first order for its tiltable Wing 560 sail technology.

The order was placed by an unidentified shipowner, who ordered two Oceanbird Wing 560 rigid sails. The customer’s name will be announced later, according to the company.

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Technology Adaptable to Ships Over 200 Meters

The Wing 560 sails are tiltable and designed for PCTC car carriers, bulk carriers, and tankers over 200 meters long.

According to Oceanbird, the technology can be adapted to existing vessels. The proposal is to allow emission reduction and fuel savings through wind propulsion.

The company states that a single tiltable sail installed on an existing cargo ship can provide fuel savings of up to 10%.

On routes such as the North Atlantic, with sailing favorably against the wind, a ship equipped with two sails can save up to 18% in fuel.

Emission Reductions and Production Goals

According to information released by the company, the same vessel that saves up to 18% in fuel can reduce its CO2 emissions by up to 111 tons.

The CEO of Oceanbird, Amrit Kaur Bhullar, stated that the order represents a milestone for the company and that wind propulsion is a viable and scalable solution for maritime transport.

She also stated that the order is a concrete step towards cleaner and smarter shipping, resulting from the combination of Alfa Laval’s engineering expertise with Wallenius Lines’ operations.

Origin of the Joint Venture and Previous Tests

Alfa Laval and Wallenius Lines founded Oceanbird in 2021 with the aim of developing wind propulsion technologies for the maritime industry.

In 2020, Wallenius Lines announced the successful completion of a maritime test on a smaller vessel using its wind propulsion technology.

According to the company’s website, savings calculations vary depending on the vessel and route. Still, the tiltable Wing 560 sail is presented as a solution adaptable to different types of cargo ships.

Oceanbird stated that it intends to scale up production and serve vessels worldwide, consolidating its presence in the wind propulsion sector. The planned installation for 2027 marks the beginning of this commercial expansion.

Giant Ship With 557 m² Adjustable Sail Wing Promises to Cut Fuel Use by Up to 18% and Is Set for Installation in 2027 in Europe

First Order of the Wing 560 Sails, 557 m² Marks Start of Commercial Production of Oceanbird, With Installation Planned for 2027 in Europe and Potential Fuel Savings of Up to 18% and Reduction of 111 Tons of CO2 on Specific Routes

Oceanbird Secures First Order of the Tiltable Wing 560 Sail

Technology Adaptable to Ships Over 200 Meters

Emission Reductions and Production Goals

Origin of the Joint Venture and Previous Tests

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Giant Ship With 557 m² Adjustable Sail Wing Promises to Cut Fuel Use by Up to 18% and Is Set for Installation in 2027 in Europe

First Order of the Wing 560 Sails, 557 m² Marks Start of Commercial Production of Oceanbird, With Installation Planned for 2027 in Europe and Potential Fuel Savings of Up to 18% and Reduction of 111 Tons of CO2 on Specific Routes

Oceanbird Secures First Order of the Tiltable Wing 560 Sail

Technology Adaptable to Ships Over 200 Meters

Emission Reductions and Production Goals

Origin of the Joint Venture and Previous Tests

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China is building an artificial island in the middle of the sea, covering 20 km², to construct the largest offshore airport in the world, the Dalian Jinzhouwan. This $4.3 billion project is anchored on more than 3,000 pillars embedded in the rock beneath the ocean and is scheduled to open in 2035.

Austrian engineers have developed an inflatable concrete technology that transforms flat slabs into domes using only air pressure, eliminating scaffolding and temporary forms, and potentially changing the way bridges, tunnels, and curved roofs are constructed worldwide.

A robot named Walter does the work of five bricklayers per hour and can save the construction industry, where the average age of professionals is 46 years and almost no one wants to learn the trade anymore, in the United Kingdom.

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