Union Maritime’s Brands Hatch proves commercial-scale potential of wind-assisted propulsion
The world’s first newbuild tanker equipped with WindWings® technology has arrived in Europe, marking a milestone moment for maritime decarbonisation. Union Maritime’s Brands Hatch, fitted with three WindWings® developed by UK-based BAR Technologies, completed its maiden voyage with a European port call in Rotterdam on 8 September.
The voyage demonstrated the tangible impact of wind propulsion on ocean-going vessels. Despite challenging conditions, the tanker maintained strong sailing speeds while delivering dramatic fuel savings. In favourable winds, the vessel generated more than one-third of its propulsion from the WindWings® alone, even when fully laden.
Union Maritime reported that on one 24-hour stretch, the ship’s three WindWings® displaced 12.8 tonnes of fuel, or 13 tonnes of CO₂ avoided per wing per day. For a six-hour window, peak performance reached more than 18 tonnes per day. This surpasses the typical expected savings of 1.5 tonnes of fuel per wing per day on global routes, underscoring the scale of the technology’s potential.
Smart routing and collaborative innovation
The maiden voyage also incorporated sail-aware weather routing from Ascenz Marorka, enhancing the benefits of wind assistance beyond traditional routing methods.
Union Maritime has been spearheading the adoption of wind propulsion technologies through Project AeroPower, a collaborative initiative with Anglo-Eastern, Synergy, Atlantas Ship Management and BAR Technologies. The project is designed to ensure safe and efficient integration of WindWings® into global shipping operations.
Laurent Cadji, Managing Director at Union Maritime, said:
“This milestone voyage with Brands Hatch is a proud moment for Union Maritime and a clear demonstration of our leadership in bringing innovative, sustainable solutions to global shipping. 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. Our collaboration with BAR Technologies on the deployment of WindWings® is an important part of this journey, and together with our partners we are setting a new standard for efficiency, compliance and responsibility across the industry.”
A first-of-its-kind vessel
Unlike retrofitted ships, Brands Hatch was designed and built from the ground up to incorporate WindWings® technology, making it the first tanker to fully integrate the system at newbuild stage.
John Cooper, CEO of BAR Technologies, said:
“The arrival of Brands Hatch in Europe really is a landmark moment, not just for us, but for everyone committed to driving maritime sustainability forward through wind propulsion. This is the first time a vessel built from the ground up with WindWings® has completed a full ocean passage, proving that wind propulsion is ready for commercial-scale use. What makes this even more significant is the collaboration behind it. We’re proud to have worked with Union Maritime and their partners to bring this to life, not only delivering innovation but delivering results.
On her maiden voyage, Brands Hatch shows what we’ve believed from the start: that WindWings® are a practical, scalable solution to shipping’s decarbonisation challenge. They were never just a concept for the future; they’re delivering exactly as we always knew they would.”
Towards a wind-powered fleet
Brands Hatch is the lead vessel in Union Maritime’s planned fleet of wind-assisted ships, which is set to become the largest of its kind globally. By rolling out WindWings® across a significant portion of its fleet, the company expects to remain fully compliant with international environmental regulations through 2030 while cutting operating costs.
The maritime sector, responsible for around 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, faces growing pressure to decarbonise in line with the International Maritime Organization’s target of net-zero emissions by 2050. With fuel prices volatile and regulatory frameworks tightening, wind propulsion is gaining renewed attention as a cost-effective, zero-emission energy source that can complement efficiency improvements and alternative fuels.
The successful European debut of Brands Hatch strengthens the case for large-scale adoption. For shipping firms weighing investment in low-carbon solutions, the vessel’s performance offers concrete evidence that wind-assisted propulsion can deliver meaningful emissions reductions and economic gains today, not just in the future.
