en.Wedoany.com Reported - The LR2 tanker Monza has been delivered, marking another step forward for wind-assisted propulsion in commercial shipping. Built by China's Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in Jiangsu Province for Union Maritime, the vessel is equipped with two 37.5-meter WindWings® sails, with technology developed by BAR Technologies and manufactured by CMET. The Monza is the third vessel in Union Maritime's newbuilding series to combine LNG dual-fuel propulsion with rigid sail technology.
Against a backdrop of ongoing uncertainty surrounding IMO carbon regulations, shipowners are seeking ways to immediately reduce fuel consumption. BAR Technologies CEO John Cooper stated that the industry cannot postpone decarbonization decisions while waiting for regulatory clarity or large-scale alternative fuel infrastructure. Wind propulsion is increasingly seen as a technology that can deliver immediate emissions reductions, with an effect akin to adding an extra engine driven entirely by weather conditions, without consuming additional fuel.
BAR Technologies explains that its patented three-element airfoil design can provide up to 2.5 times the lift of conventional single-element systems, with the fully automated sails continuously adjusting to wind conditions during voyages. The company states that the technology can support compliance with FuelEU Maritime regulations and existing IMO efficiency targets by reducing fuel consumption and associated emissions. This delivery adds momentum to the wind propulsion sector, which just a few years ago was still associated with pilot projects and demonstration vessels. Today, the installation of rigid sails is moving towards repeatable production across multiple ships within a single fleet.
At the vessel's naming ceremony, Zhou Kewei, Deputy General Manager of Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group, said the project demonstrates how wind-assisted propulsion can now be efficiently integrated as a holistic solution within a ship series. Steve Windrim, Senior Client Relationship Manager for BAR Technologies at Lloyd's Register, stated that this delivery reflects how wind propulsion is increasingly being integrated into mainstream shipbuilding processes. Simon Bonnett, Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs for the Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator, noted that the project showcases how innovative ship designs can operate within existing safety and compliance frameworks. Lauren Eatwell, Head of BAR Technologies' WindWings® division, said: "With each vessel delivered, we see growing industry confidence in how to integrate wind propulsion at scale." Multiple additional vessels equipped with WindWings sails are already under construction.
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