Giant 6,000-square-feet wing sail to provide 10 percent fuel savings

Oceanbird, a joint venture between Swedish marine technology firm Alfa Laval and shipping company Wallenius Lines, has secured its first commercial order for its innovative Wing 560 wind propulsion technology. The order, placed by an undisclosed shipowner, includes two 6,000-square-feet tiltable wing sails designed primarily for large vessels such as pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs), bulkers, and tankers over 200 meters. Installation is planned for early 2027 in Europe, marking a significant milestone as Oceanbird begins its commercial journey to scale production and serve the global shipping market. The Wing 560 technology can be retrofitted onto existing cargo vessels, enabling them to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Depending on the vessel and route, fuel savings can reach up to 18 percent with two wing sails, particularly on routes like the North Atlantic, translating into a reduction of up to 111 tons of CO2 emissions. A single wing sail can provide approximately 10 percent fuel and