en.Wedoany.com Reported - HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has established a strategic partnership with BAR Technologies to engage in technical and commercial collaboration on the integration of BAR's WindWings propulsion system into newbuild vessels.

BAR Technologies' WindWings system features a patented three-element airfoil design, generating 2.5 times the lift of a single-element airfoil. The system does not require continuous power to drive suction fans or mechanical rotation, and it automatically adjusts camber and angle of attack to maintain optimal efficiency under varying wind conditions.

According to a memorandum of agreement signed by both parties in Athens on June 2, the two companies will jointly develop interface technology between the WindWings control system and HHI's integrated ship control system, and establish performance verification methods to support scalable commercial deployment.

In a joint statement, the two companies stated that HHI's Ulsan shipyard, one of the world's largest shipbuilding facilities, brings significant scale advantages for the deployment of WindWings. The agreement requires the establishment of a joint engineering approach during the ship design phase, enabling more integrated and consistent application of WindWings in newbuild vessels. This collaboration reflects mutual confidence in the performance and reliability of the three-element rigid wing sail design, as well as its potential to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions in commercial shipping.

The partnership is expected to drive the expansion of wind-assisted propulsion across a wider range of vessel types, including gas carriers. Since its founding, HHI has delivered over 5,000 vessels to shipowners in more than 60 countries, and its scale and industry influence can support the effective expansion of wind-assisted propulsion across a broad spectrum of ship types.

The memorandum of understanding has an initial term of three years, reflecting the joint commitment of both parties to the large-scale deployment of practical, low-emission technologies in the maritime sector. As regulatory and commercial pressures intensify, wind-assisted propulsion is becoming an important lever for shipowners to reduce fuel consumption and improve efficiency under increasingly stringent regulatory frameworks.

Hongryeul Ryu, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of HHI, stated that through the partnership with BAR Technologies and the joint development of WindWings, the company aims to promote the wider application and technological advancement of wind-assisted propulsion systems as a key technology for next-generation maritime transportation. He noted that this collaboration goes beyond technical integration and represents a step toward fundamentally upgrading the way future ships are designed. As a leading shipbuilding company in the global maritime industry's decarbonization process, HHI is committed to playing its role in driving this transformation.

The agreement builds on the existing installation base of WindWings on both retrofit and newbuild vessels, supporting its broader integration into ship design and creating a more scalable and standardized path for adoption. Shipowners are increasingly turning to wind energy, a fuel-free source, to reduce emissions and meet tightening regulatory requirements.

John Cooper, CEO of BAR Technologies, stated that a significant number of newbuild vessels have already deployed the WindWings system. Partnering with HHI is expected to expand wind-assisted propulsion into more vessel types, such as gas carriers. As fuel costs and regulatory pressures continue to rise, the question for shipowners is no longer whether to use wind energy, but how quickly they can adopt it. Collaborating with a world-class shipyard like HHI is precisely how wind-assisted propulsion moves from early adoption to mainstream shipbuilding.

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