The Return of Sail Power: Cargo Ships Are Turning Back to the Wind
Summary
Wind-assisted propulsion is moving from niche experiments to mainstream use in cargo shipping. Rotor sails, suction-based systems, and automation are being deployed on various vessel types, with Maersk planning a 35-meter rotor sail on a containership in 2027 and Vale already using rotor sails on Sohar Max; other projects include LNG carriers and ro-ro ships. The technology is designed to work with engines and voyage planning to cut fuel use, though wind variability and regulatory issues remain.