Shipping is an integral part of the global economy, with over 90% of the world’s trade carried by ships. However, the industry is also a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for about 3% of global emissions. The shipping industry has recognized the need to transition towards sustainable practices to reduce its carbon footprint, and the Oceanbird concept is a promising step towards achieving this goal.
The Oceanbird concept results from a three-year Swedish R&D project, consisting of Wallenius Marine, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and SSPA/RISE, with support from the Swedish Transport Administration. The concept aims to reduce emissions from vessels by up to 90% if all emissions-influencing factors are aligned.
The concept’s main feature is wind propulsion, which harnesses wind energy to propel the ship forward. The Oceanbird wing sails are designed like airplane wings, optimizing aerodynamic forces, and consist of a main sail and a flap. When entering harbors or passing under bridges, the smaller segment folds into the other before tilting the entire wing sail.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen, the market leader in roll-on/roll-off shipping and vehicle logistics, announced its intention to order the first vessels from the Oceanbird concept, which they will call Orcelle Wind. Orcelle Wind will have six Oceanbird Wing 560, and the vessel will have a capacity for approximately 7,000 cars. The ambition is to commence sailing in early 2027. Wallenius Marine is leading the ship design and new building project, in collaboration with Oceanbird and Wallenius Wilhelmsen.
The first vessel with an Oceanbird Wing will sail in mid-2024. Oceanbird will install a wing sail on the existing Wallenius Wilhelmsen vessel Tirranna, as part of the EU-funded project Orcelle Horizon.
The Oceanbird concept faces several challenges when implemented in commercial logistics systems, such as inflexible arrival times at ports and the environmental impact of longer crossings at slower speeds. However, with these factors taken into consideration, the concept shows a significant reduction in emissions on the first vessels from the Oceanbird concept.
The shipping industry must transition towards sustainable practices to reduce its carbon footprint, and the Oceanbird concept is a promising step towards this goal. With its innovative wind propulsion technology, the concept shows that it is possible to reduce emissions by up to 90% if all emissions-influencing factors are aligned. The success of the Oceanbird concept will depend on the industry’s willingness to adopt sustainable practices and embrace new technologies, making shipping a more environmentally friendly industry.