Wind propulsion reaches the national news

Whether it is due to increased attention to dwindling oil reserves after the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz or clever marketing by Econowind: wind propulsion is on the rise, reports NOS-news.

On its news site, the NOS reports, having already covered it in TV news, that wind propulsion is in full swing in maritime interest:

At first glance, there is nothing unusual about the Dutch freighter the Amadeus Sapphire.
It delivers goods to ports in and around Europe. Coils of steel to Turkey, and recently bags of cement to Ibiza. Diesel propels the ship, as with most cargo ships. Until the right wind picks up, then something remarkable happens.

The Amadeus Sapphire is one of now nearly a hundred large cargo ships using special wind propulsion. The ship can fold up two large masts that, like vertical aircraft wings, convert wind energy into thrust, propelling the ship forward. The result: less fuel consumption, more speed.
More and more shipowners are doing the math. Two years ago, the technology was still a novelty. Last December, 85 large tankers and bulk carriers were sailing around with these masts. Currently, there are 96, according to figures NOS requested from the International Windship Association.
The rapid increase continues for now. “We expect the number of ships to double in a year’s time,” says Gavin Allwright, secretary-general of the International Windship Association. “Right now, over 120 new orders have been placed with yards that make windships.”

Strong interest

It is busy in the hall in Zeewolde. Association figures show that a quarter of the installations on cargo ships come from here. Dutch company Econowind is the global market leader in wind propulsion, which they call VentoFoils.
“Especially with current oil prices, you can see that there is a lot of interest,” says Chiel de Leeuw, commercial director of Econowind. “The willingness to invest is just a bit less now because shipowners are just waiting to see what happens. But they are preparing for the future. If perhaps a higher oil price remains, the business case for us will get better.”
The owner of the Amadeus Sapphire also sees the benefits at this time of high diesel prices. “Fuel economy is of course hugely topical at the moment, given the situation in the Gulf region,” says Cynthia Everduin, operational director of De Bock Maritime. “We are glad we started down this path a few years ago.”

Reducing emissions

On average, the Amadeus Sapphire consumes 10 per cent less fuel. This is not only due to the wind drive. Everduin: “The hull shape has also been optimised.”
De Bock had the ship built new in 2024. In the same year, Rotterdam shipowner Anthony Veder had masts put on an existing ship. “The saving with us now is about 2 to 4 per cent,” says Nynke de Bakker, spokesperson for the shipping company. “But then our masts are also lower than newbuilds.”
In the future, Anthony Veder would prefer to use wind propulsion on newbuildings. Nevertheless, this shipping company is also happy with the step they took. “You look for ways to reduce emissions,” says De Bakker. “Other fuels are difficult in shipping, especially on an existing ship.”

Kites on ships

Lower emissions were also an important reason for Johan Boomsma, because of fuel savings, but also because of increasing regulations around sustainability. “I have always believed in wind,” says the owner of Boomsma Shipping. “We started using this technology about six years ago. It was really in its infancy back then. We were among the first 10 worldwide.”
Wind has certainly brought savings to Boomsma. “But not as much as initially thought,” he says. “We were also early adopters. Now the technology is further along. Our ship has two units of 10 metres high, we will do one of 25 metres in the future.”
He sees all kinds of forms of wind propulsion coming along. “You even have big kites on ships, but that is still a dream world,” says the wind veteran. “The most mainstream now are foils and rotors, which are sort of steel masts that rotate.”
The Amadeus Sapphire has now left Ibiza behind. It is sailing northwards, north of the island of Mallorca. With help from the wind.

Source: NOS news.
Image: De Bock Maritime.

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