On 3 June 2024 Union Maritime, a leader in the global shipping industry, announced it was looking to enter a new era of wind propulsion.
The company is deploying cutting-edge wind technology across its fleet: it is working with BAR Technologies, the supplier of WindWings®, an industry-leading rigid sail technology that uses wind propulsion to deliver average daily savings of 1.5 tonnes of fuel per wing and 6 tonnes of CO2 per wing on typical global routes. Union Maritime are also working with Norsepower for rotor sails on smaller vessels.
Wind propulsion will be deployed on a total of 34 Union Maritime newbuild vessels, including 14 LR2s, 12 chemical tankers, and eight MRs.
This propulsion technology has huge environmental benefits as well as economic incentive for shipowners and charterers alike – as well as the wider shipping and trading community – in the form of significant reduced fuel costs.
Crucially, all this is achieved without compromising on speed, efficiency, and quality of service. Union is pursuing ambitious sustainability goals, whilst maintaining the highest standards of operational excellence.
At the same time as deploying this new technology on its ships, Union Maritime is also working with BAR Technologies’ shareholders on a significant strategic equity investment into the company, reflecting the companies’ long-term commitment and strategic alignment.
That process is in its final stages and reflects Union Maritime’s deep commitment both to good corporate citizenship – it intends to continue to lead the way on efficient environmental shipping – and to WindWing® technology and its central role in global shipping. Further announcements will be made in the near future.
Wind propulsion is the central feature of Union Maritime’s wider environmental initiatives: the company is also deploying dual-fuel LNG engines on up to eight LR2s, working with Bar Technologies on its transformational AeroBridge® superstructure which provide further efficiency and crew comfort, as well as various other technologies.
