UK based shipowner Union Maritime will lead the global shipping industry into a new era of wind propulsion, as the company is deploying cutting-edge wind technology across its fleet.
Union Maritime is working with BAR Technologies, the supplier of WindWings® which is an industry-leading rigid sail technology that uses wind propulsion to deliver average daily savings of 1.5 tonnes of fuel per wing and tonnes of CO2 per wing on typical global routes.
Wind propulsion will be deployed on a total of 34 Union Maritime newbuild vessels, including 14 LR2s, 12 chemical tankers, and 8 MRs, as the company informs.
This wind 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.
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, as 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, but the company is also deploying dual-fuel LNG engines on up to 8 LR2s, working with BAR Technologies on its transformational AeroBridge® superstructure which provide further efficiency and crew comfort, as well as various other technologies.
Source: BAR Technologies
