Oceanbird, a joint venture created in December 2021 by Alfa Laval and Wallenius Lines, has demonstrated a wing sail at an event in southern Sweden. The 40-metre-high rigid wing rose into the sky at an event with many dignitaries present at Landskrona. It unfolded its two segments and showed off a full rotation, giving shipping a glimpse of yet another wind technology entering the market. The core is made of high-strength steel, and the aerodynamic surface is a sandwich construction of glass fibre composites and 370,000 recycled plastic bottles. The large sail goes alongside a smaller 14 m high one the JV has also developed – both of which are now being marketed to the shipping industry. Using air pressure to push the vessel forward, one wing sail on an existing vessel, can save up 10% of fuel and emissions on optimal routes, Oceanbird claims. “We need pioneers who are willing to take risks, to innovate and to lead the way into the green industrial transformation and this is a great example of leadership. Oceanbird stands as proof of this success,” said Andreas Carlson, Sweden´s minister of infrastructure and housing at the inauguration. The first wing sail will be permanently placed at the shipyard Oresund DryDocks in Landskrona, where also an identical, second wing sail is being assembled during the autumn. That will be installed on Wallenius Wilhelmsen´s vessel Tirranna in the beginning of 2026. This latest wing sail joins a host of other wind tech on the market, including kites, suction sails and rotor sails. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsSweden