Modern Cargo Ships Adopt Advanced Wind-Powered Sails to Reduce Emissions

The Pyxis Ocean and the Return of Aerodynamic Lift

In August 2023, the shipping industry saw a tangible shift in propulsion technology when the cargo carrier Pyxis Ocean set out on its maiden voyage. Spanning 229 meters, the vessel was equipped with two 37.5-meter-tall structures known as WindWings. According to reporting from ecoportal.net, their function is not to catch the wind like a barn door, but to operate on the same physical principles as airplane wings.

The system utilizes aerodynamic lift to assist in moving the ship. As air travels across the curved surface of the wing, it moves faster over one side than the other, creating a zone of lower pressure on the forward side. This pressure differential pulls the wing—and the vessel—forward. Over its first six months of operation, the Pyxis Ocean traveled across the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans, rounding both Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope, effectively proving the technology’s utility for heavy, modern commercial transit.

DynaRig Systems for Superyachts and Greenpeace

While cargo ships experiment with wing sails, the DynaRig system has gained traction within the luxury vessel and specialized ship sectors. First popularized by the 88-meter Maltese Falcon more than 20 years ago, the DynaRig features freestanding, rotating masts that allow yard arms and soft sails to be adjusted automatically to the wind angle. According to Yachting World, there are currently three major DynaRig projects in production, marking what the publication identifies as a coming-of-age for the design.

These projects include the world’s largest sailing multihull at 58 meters and a 120m+ project. Perhaps most notably, the third project is a 75-meter vessel currently in build for Greenpeace. This ship is designed to serve as a demonstrator for the commercial shipping industry, showing how sail power can integrate into modern fleets to help meet mandatory carbon and emissions reduction targets scheduled to take effect by 2030.

Historical Engineering and Modern Industrial Requirements

The resurgence of wind power is driven by the industry’s massive carbon footprint. Shipping is responsible for approximately one billion tons of carbon dioxide annually, or nearly 3 percent of all human-caused emissions, according to ecoportal.net. With clean alternatives like ammonia, hydrogen, or full electric power still considered years away, engineers are looking to the past to solve contemporary fuel reliance.

The DynaRig concept itself traces back to the late 1960s, when German engineer Wilhelm Prölß developed the “DynaSchiff” design. While the oil crisis of the 1970s highlighted the need for such efficiency, the material technology of the era could not support the construction. Today, the system is favored for its ability to be managed by short-handed crews, similar to those on diesel-powered ships. Yachting World notes that for vessels over 65 meters, the DynaRig offers a practical, reliable solution for offwind passagemaking, removing the need for traditional standing rigging and loaded sheets.

Challenges and Future Integration

For the Pyxis Ocean, the steel wings must be folded flat whenever the ship approaches a port or a bridge. Furthermore, while Southern Spars asserts that the DynaRig is a proven solution for specific sizes and applications, the industry must still navigate the shift away from a reliance on heavy diesel that currently powers the vast majority of global container shipping.

Sources: Yachting World, ecoportal.net.