UK Shipping firm Union Maritime’s tanker Brands Hatch has proven the power of wind-assisted propulsion on its first voyage.
Fitted with BAR Technologies wind propulsion system WindWings, the tanker delivered more than a third of its propulsion from wind alone, even while fully laden.
The newbuild tanker made her maiden European port call in Rotterdam on 8 September, showcasing how Union Maritime’s investment in wind technology can deliver measurable savings without compromising performance in challenging weather.
Working with charterers and employing sail-aware weather routing from Ascenz Marorka, Brands Hatch demonstrated both strong sailing speeds and significant efficiency gains.
The vessel’s three WindWings also cut bunker fuel use by 12.8 tonnes in a single day, equating to nearly 39 tonnes of CO₂ avoided.
For six hours during the voyage, the WindWings maintained a performance rate equivalent to more than 18 tonnes of fuel savings per day, demonstrating the technology’s ability to deliver strong and sustained efficiency in real trading conditions.
This far outstrips the average savings of around 1.5 tonnes of fuel per wing per day typically expected on global routes, underlining the exceptional efficiency achieved by Brands Hatch on her maiden voyage.
“The early performance results highlight the real-world potential of wind-assisted propulsion, and we are pleased to be proving its commercial and environmental value at scale,” said Laurent Cadji, Managing Director at Union Maritime.
