Oceanbird shows its wings
On the 25th of August 2025, Oceanbird officially launched its first rigid sail product, the 560 m2 tiltable ‘Wing 560’, after 3 years of development.
Accompanied by a string quartet and champagne, the 40-metre-high wing rose into the sky, shielding the late August sun as it unfolded its two segments and showed off a full rotation. Aside from being a new landmark in Landskrona, Southern Sweden, it will be an important site for crew training, customers visits and optimisation of the automation system.
“This is truly a milestone. Together, we are advancing towards fossil free shipping” said Andreas Carlson, Sweden´s Minister of Infrastructure and Housing at the inauguration.
“We need pioneers who are willing to take risks, to innovate and to lead the way into the green industrial transformation and this is a great example of leadership. Oceanbird stands as proof of this success”
3 years intensive R&D work
The Oceanbird company was formed 3,5 years ago as a joint venture between Alfa Laval and Wallenius Lines. Alfa Laval is a Swedisch company producing specialised products for heavy industry, Wallenius Lines is a Swedish shipping company. Since its foundation, Oceanbird has developed a rigid, 40-metre high and 14-metre-wide wing sail. The core is made of high strength steel, and the aerodynamic surface is a sandwich construction of glass fiber composites and 370,000 recycled plastic bottles.
“We had a clear mission: to prove that wind can once again play a significant role in powering ships. After roughly three years of hard work and long days, we are standing here with the first prototype of the Wing 560 sail, ready to show it to you — to the world — and to take orders” said Magnus MackAldener, interim CEO & Head of R&D at Oceanbird. “We believe that wind propulsion can grow into a significant new industry for Sweden — one that brings together engineering, sustainability, and maritime leadership”
Twin wing to be installed onboard
The first wing sail will be permanently placed at the shipyard Oresund DryDocks in Landskrona, where also an identical, second wing sail is being assembled during the autumn. That will be installed on Wallenius Wilhelmsen´s vessel Tirranna in the beginning of 2026.
Source: Oceanbird blog, edited.
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