The Oceanbird concept

Oceanbird is about revolutionizing technology that gives an alternative to fossil-driven cargo vessels.  The complete Oceanbird concept includes wing rigs, as well as a special designed hull and recommendations regarding speed and routes, but it is also applicable for existing vessels (retrofit). Extensive simulations and model testing at sea and in water tanks, have proven that it is possible to significantly reduce emissions from vessels by using wind power.

The first vessels from the Oceanbird concept will be a car-carrier able to transport around 7,000 cars. If sailing in an average speed of 10 knots, it will take 12 instead of 8 days to cross the Atlantic. The concept is based on a 200 metres long and 40 metres wide cargo vessel. To be able to get in and out of harbours – and as a safety measure and to be able to keep schedule – the vessel will also be equipped with an auxiliary engine, powered by the best alternative available today.

Our aim is to sail the first Oceanbird vessel in 2026, and so far it looks promising.

The main energy force comes from wind, but the Oceanbird wing rigs have more in common with airplane wings than traditional sails. Therefore, aerodynamics are important in developing the concept. The wing consists of a core and a flap, optimizing the aerodynamics forces.

When entering harbors, passing under bridges or if the surface area needs to be reduced due to strong winds, the smaller segment folds into the other before the whole wing sail is tilted.

The wing sails in this first product line are around 40 metres high and 15 metres wide. Prototypes of the wing sail will be tested in 2023. Meanwhile, Oceanbird is investigating solutions for placing wing sails on existing vessels in several shipping segments.

Each wing sail will save around half a million-liter fuel (480,000 liter), equal to 3,000 barrels diesel a year. The calculations are based on wind probabilities along main trading routes, provided by IMO.

The whole Oceanbird concept, including special designed hull, wing sails and speed/route recommendations, will reduce much more.

Shipping is an energy-efficient way of transporting goods. Despite this, shipping needs to become more sustainable. Maritime transport emits around 940 million tonnes of CO₂ annually and is responsible for about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, even more than airplanes. If the industry was a country, it would be the sixth biggest polluter, above Germany.

These emissions are projected to increase significantly if mitigation measures are not put in place swiftly. If we continue business-as-usual, the emissions will increase with 50%-250% by 2050, according to International Maritime Organisation (IMO). IMO has set a goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 40 percent per transport work from international shipping by 2030 compared to 2008. Oceanbird want to take de-carbonisation one step further, contributing to changing, updating, and remodeling an entire industry.

Cuts air and sound pollution

Besides from reducing air emissions, Oceanbird will also decrease sound pollution in the water. The Oceanbird vessels would be far quieter in the water, since it will be no sounds from generators or engines but propeller cavitation. This will mean a lot for whales and other marine mammals which depend on hearing for navigation, reproduction and finding food.