Pyxis Ocean, the world's first wind-powered cargo ship sets sail

The world's first wind-powered cargo ship has embarked on its inaugural voyage, marking a groundbreaking move towards exploring the potential of harnessing wind power to reduce emissions and energy consumption in the shipping industry.

Imagine a big cargo ship like the ones you see in the harbor. Normally, these ships use engines that run on some sort of fossil fuel to move around the ocean and carry goods from one place to another. But now, there's a new idea to make these ships more friendly to the environment.

The vessel, chartered by the US shipping firm Cargill, has undergone a retrofit with two innovative WindWings. These towering steel sails, standing at an impressive 37.5 meters (123 feet), have been designed by the UK-based company BAR Technologies and manufactured by Yara Marine Technologies.

The maiden voyage of the cargo ship, named the Pyxis Ocean, involves a journey from China to Brazil. This expedition serves as a crucial real-world test for the WindWings, offering insights into their efficiency and effectiveness in reducing fuel consumption and carbon footprint.

The WindWings operate by opening out to catch the wind's power while at sea, and folding down when the ship docks in port. The sails are constructed using materials akin to those used in wind turbines, ensuring durability in the maritime environment. The intention is to shift the ship's propulsion from sole reliance on its engine to a combined approach of wind assistance and engine power, potentially leading to a 30% reduction in the vessel's overall lifetime emissions.

Jan Dieleman, the president of Cargill Ocean Transportation, acknowledges that the shipping industry is on a journey to decarbonize and emphasizes the significance of technological advancements in achieving this goal. He underlines the rapid shift in industry sentiment from skepticism about decarbonization to a collective commitment to change.

The maritime industry is under growing pressure to address its significant contribution to global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, estimated at around 2.1%. It is responsible for nearly 3% of global CO2 emissions, and is exploring various avenues to transition away from high-emission bunker fuels, with wind propulsion offering a promising solution. 

While wind-assisted propulsion is not new, recent years have seen the emergence of new technologies in this field. Despite the novelty, only a small number of commercial vessels (around 20) currently utilize wind propulsion.

• The primary goal of the WindWings is to achieve substantial reductions in emissions, with projected savings of up to 30%. 
• When coupled with the use of alternative fuels, experts anticipate that these savings could be even greater. 

The Pyxis Ocean's voyage is underpinned by technology developed by BAR Technologies, a UK company with roots in the 2017 America's Cup team led by Sir Ben Ainslie. The head of BAR Technologies, John Cooper, envisions this voyage as a turning point for the maritime industry, predicting that approximately half of new-build ships by 2025 will incorporate wind propulsion due to the substantial fuel and emission savings it can provide.

Despite the UK's contribution to the innovation, the manufacturing of the sails takes place in China due to cost considerations. However, this does not dampen the enthusiasm for this groundbreaking project, as the industry and its players actively seek to showcase the feasibility of wind-assisted propulsion and inspire further adoption.

Cargill's ambitious endeavor is symbolic of the maritime industry's ongoing commitment to embrace greener practices and mitigate its environmental impact. As this pioneering wind-powered cargo ship embarks on its journey, it stands as a testament to the potential of innovation in revolutionizing traditional industries for a more sustainable future.