With the help of two huge 37.5 meter sails, the ship could be an alternative to save fuel and reduce polluting emissions.

With the aim of studying how the use of wind energy can reduce emissions and energy consumption in the maritime transport sector, a cargo ship equipped with special sails made its first official trip.

The maritime sector, responsible for almost 3% of global CO₂ emissions and under pressure from investors and environmental groups to accelerate decarbonisation, is exploring various technologies, such as ammonia and methanol, in an effort to move away from polluting fuels.

According to manufacturers, in addition to significantly saving fuel, each freighter powered by wind energy, instead of relying solely on an engine, could eventually reduce up to 30% of polluting emissions.

The trip

John Cooper, director of the British company Bar Technologies, which developed the candles, says:

“I predict that by 2025 half of new ships will be powered by wind,” he told the BBC.

«The reason I am so confident is the savings: a ton and a half of fuel a day. If we put four wings on a ship, we save six tons of fuel and 20 tons of CO₂ per day. The numbers are enormous,” he stressed.

The ship left Singapore for Brazil and transported a cargo of grain to Denmark, Cooper said.

According to what was announced, the ship stayed in the North Atlantic area to make the most of the strong winds in the area.