A rigid wingsail called AirWing will be bolted onto a 130-metre cargo ship to prove it can cut fuel use and carbon emissions in real-world conditions. The global shipping fleet runs almost entirely on heavy fuel oil, producing roughly three percent of all human-made CO₂ emissions. Retrofitting existing vessels with wind-assisted propulsion is one of the few ways to cut those emissions quickly without waiting for new zero-carbon fuels or engines. AirWing’s patented design aims to generate more thrust per square metre than conventional soft sails or simpler rigid wings, making the technology viable for large commercial vessels that must keep to tight schedules. If the demonstration succeeds, ship owners will have verified data showing fuel savings of 10–30 percent on retrofits and up to 50 percent on new builds. That could accelerate adoption across the UK-flagged fleet and open export markets for British-designed clean maritime hardware. The project also addresses practical barriers—navigational camera systems will solve sightline problems caused by the wingsail’s height, and an Agreement in Principle from classification society Bureau Veritas confirms the design meets safety and regulatory standards. The result would be a commercially ready product, not just a prototype.
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This project focusses on the development, testing, and deployment of a novel maritime Wind Propulsion (WP) system, AirWing - a rigid wingsail which utilises a patented innovation to achieve highly efficient thrust outputs. AirWing acts an auxiliary propulsion system, reducing carbon emissions and fuel costs by 10-30% for retrofits and up to 50% for new build vessels. The project's primary goal is to conduct a real-world demonstration of the AirWing technology on board a UK owned, operated, flagged, and classed 130-metre cargo shipping vessel. This will demonstrate the fuel savings and emissions-reducing capabilities of AirWing, whilst showcasing the UK as a global leader in design and manufacturing of clean maritime technology and accelerate the transition to zero emission shipping. To ensure the project's success, a multidisciplinary team of experts will be brought together. This will include a design team, manufacturers, vessel integrators, and supply chain specialists. The project will be led by GT Green Technologies (GT) who will leverage their expertise in wind propulsion. GT will be supported by strategic partners who will support design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA) as well as supply chain mapping. GT has obtained an Agreement in Principle (AIP) from Bureau Veritas (BV) , a classification society used to assess the feasibility, compliance, and safety aspects of the project. This AIP ensures that current designs and technical details align with relevant industry standards, regulations, and best practices within the maritime industry. Innovative solutions, such as navigational camera systems will be used to address sightline issues arising from AirWing's design, ensuring regulatory adherence. A detailed plan for commercialising AirWing and scaling up production will be developed. The project aims to validate the reduction in lifecycle emission and potential fuel savings, providing vessel owners with real data to support future investment and boot the UK's economic impact through international orders and exports. Overall, the project's collaboration with industry experts, focus on regulatory compliance, and emphasis on scalability make AirWing a promising initiative for advancing clean maritime technology within the UK.
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