The International Windship Association (IWSA) says it is starting to see small fleet orders being made by shipowners for wind-powered vessels, not just single-ship deployments.

As of August 1, IWSA says, there were forty-five vessels with wind propulsion technology installed on board, in addition to ten wind-ready vessels, with a combined total of over 3 million DWT, indicating a three-fold increase in installations over the previous 12-month period. 

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The association says the uptick in wind-powered vessels hitting the water has been driven by the performance of wind propulsion technology strengthening in recent years, coupled with installation costs and ROI periods shrinking. High costs for fossil fuel and alternative fuels are also responsible for the increased industry interest. 

 “So far this year, we have witnessed new project announcements, order confirmations, and installation celebrations almost every week,” said IWSA Secretary General, Gavin Allwright in an August 23 announcement. “This is a sector of technology development and renewable energy use that is clearly embarking on a voyage propelled by the prevailing winds rather than one still being buffeted by headwinds.”

A total of thirty-seven IWSA members will be exhibiting at the SMM 2024 maritime industry fair in Hamburg, September 3-6.