Econowind sells 100th VentoFoil

“An important milestone is in the shipping industry’s shift to wind-assisted ship propulsion,” Chiel de Leeuw, CCO of Econowind in Zeewolde, calls the successful sale of the 100th installation of a Ventofoil.

Since the first two units were installed on MV Ankie in 2018, Econowind has steadily expanded its reach. Currently, 32 VentoFoil units are in operation, 33 units are currently in production or ready for installation and another 37 units are scheduled for delivery in 2025. VentoFoil technology has been successfully deployed on bulk carriers, tankers, RoRo vessels and container ships.

Increasing production

To meet growing demand, Econowind is scaling up production at its Zeewolde plant. A larger space and optimised processes will ensure higher output and shorter lead times, allowing more shipowners to benefit from VentoFoil technology. Econowind is making this strategic move to ramp up production as the industry accelerates its shift to low-carbon shipping solutions.
“Passing the 100 VentoFoil units sold is a clear sign that wind-assisted ship propulsion is gaining real momentum,” says De Leeuw. “With rising fuel costs and increasingly stringent environmental regulations, ship owners are embracing wind power as a proven solution. Now that we are scaling up production, we are eager to help even more ships switch to greener shipping. The lightweight and tiltable VentoFoils are ideal for ship owners who value flexibility.”

Multiple versions

The VentoFoil series offers flexible solutions with 10-metre, 16-metre, 24-metre and 30-metre versions. This allows Econowind to respond to different vessel sizes and operational needs.
Besides fixed mounts, Econowind also offers VentoFoil units in containers and Flatrack. These can be easily transferred between ships, making it a practical, scalable solution for ship owners looking to improve efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions while maintaining operational flexibility.

Wind Reward Factor

From 2025, FuelEU Maritime is tightening its CO2 reduction targets from two per cent to eighty per cent by 2050. Ship owners using VentoFoil technology benefit from the Wind Reward Factor (WRF), which reduces their vessel’s reported emissions, making compliance with FuelEU Maritime, Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), and Emissions Trading System (ETS) regulations easier and more cost-effective. By integrating VentoFoils, they lower their fuel costs, reduce carbon emissions allowance costs and improve their CII ratings, staying ahead of regulations while reducing their operational costs.

Read the jwhole article by Mariska Buitendijk on SWZ-Maritime‘s site.
Photo: HGK Shipping’s Amadeus Sapphire is one of the vessels already sailing with VentoFoils (©Econowind).

Windassist sponsor