The shipping company that chartered the ship, Cargill, hopes that the technology will assist the industry in setting sail for a greener future. Ships’ carbon footprint will be decreased by using rigid WindWings sails that are the size of a wing. The industry is estimated to be responsible for approximately 2.1% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
The first voyage of the Pyxis Ocean will be from China to Brazil, providing the first real-world test of wind-wing technology. When the ship is in port, they are folded down; when at sea, they are opened. They are 123ft (37.5m) tall and made of the same material as wind turbines to ensure durability. Technology News UK reports that allowing a cargo ship to be blown along by the wind rather than relying solely on its engine could eventually reduce lifetime emissions by 30%.
Jan Dieleman, president of Cargill Ocean Transportation, stated that the industry is on a “decarbonisation journey.” He acknowledged that there was “no silver bullet” but that this technology demonstrated how quickly things were changing.
“Five, six years ago, if you asked people in shipping about decarbonisation, they’d say, ‘well, it’s going to be very difficult. I don’t see this happening any time soon,'” he told the BBC. Five years later, the narrative has completely changed, and everyone is convinced that they must do their part – everyone is just unsure how we’re going to do it. Due to this, we have decided to try new things, assume some of the risks, and advance the industry as one of the bigger players.
