Anemoi Marine Technologies is part of the coterie of British innovators in wind-assisted propulsion. The company has been recognised as a global exemplar of maritime decarbonisation during Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent diplomatic visit to China. The Prime Minister highlighted the company’s success in bridging British engineering excellence with international manufacturing scale to deliver significant greenhouse gas reductions for the global shipping fleet.
There is an increasing relevance for UK-developed clean maritime technology in major trade markets. Anemoi says it has secured GB£28 million in exports since June 2023. Engineering and research based in the United Kingdom is engaging closely with production facilities in China, a relationship highlighted by the ministerial visit.
Global recognition
During the visit (28-31 January), Anemoi attended the ‘House of UK Reception’ and the UK-China business forum in Shanghai. The UK government co-hosted the events with the British Chamber of Commerce, supporting the strategic importance of maritime partnerships. The Prime Minister endorsed the company’s role in supporting the transition of international shipping toward renewable-powered, low-carbon operations. “Our focus has always been on delivering real, measurable decarbonisation for the shipping industry,” said Clare Urmston, CEO of Anemoi. “Rotor Sails offer immediate reductions in fuel use and emissions. To date, we’re proud to share that our technology has harnessed the renewable power of wind to save over 91,000 tonnes of CO2, and counting.”
However, the Prime Minister’s focus on international trade has sparked domestic debate. While Starmer continues to champion UK industry on the world stage, he has faced sharp criticism from political opponents for being perceived as constantly abroad. This frequent travel has earned him the unwelcome nickname “Never Here Keir”. There has been some suggestion that the Prime Minister may actually prefer the merchant navy to life in Downing Street.
Proven technology for deep-sea shipping
If the PM were to take a commission on the high seas, he would find mariners familiar with Anemoi technology since 2015. Anemoi has been focusing for eleven years on the development of Flettner Rotor Sails, modern mechanical cylinders that harness wind power to provide auxiliary thrust. These units, which can stand up to 35 metres tall, are typically installed in groups of three to five per vessel. Each rotor is capable of saving approximately one tonne of fuel and three tonnes of CO2 emissions every day of operation at sea.
Supporting development, the company has three bases in England (head offices in London with test and port facilities in Brockenhurst and Blyth) and a facility in the eastern seaboard province of Jiangsu, China (just north of Shanghai). To date, the company has installed 29 Rotor Sails on seven vessels, including four of the world’s largest ore carriers, which ply Pacific trades between Brazil and China. The company points to the MV Afros, a 64k DWT geared Ultramax bulk carrier (pictured below), which has four Rotor Sails, deployed since 2018.
Domestic growth and industry expertise
As was pointed out during the visit, all engineering design, research and development is conducted at UK-based facilities, including the test sites at the port of Blyth in the North of England. This work has been supported by the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, a UK government match-funding initiative. That has helped Anemoi increase its domestic workforce to over forty-five in its UK operations.
Anemoi is part of a wider, healthy British ecosystem dedicated to modern wind-assisted sail technology. For example, the award-winning Smart Green Shipping recently moved closer to a new funding round following extensive trials of its own wing-sail technology in UK waters. This domestic expertise ensures that the UK remains at the forefront of the wind revolution, providing the intellectual property required to transform the global maritime landscape.
Future outlook
The demand for wind-assist solutions is expected to surge globally. The maritime industry faces stricter emissions regulations from the UN International Maritime Organization. Anemoi’s focus on measurable decarbonisation provides shipowners with a clear path toward compliance. The company says it continues to collaborate with UK-based consultancies and graduate programmes to drive continuous improvement in rotor design, ensuring the technology remains scalable for different vessel types and sizes.
The transition to renewable-powered shipping is becoming a current reality. At the forums in China, Anemoi said it was combining UK innovation with global manufacturing networks, and helping to secure the future of the maritime sector. Despite the domestic political scrutiny of his travel schedule, and other machinations within the corridors of power, Prime Minister Starmer can point to putting wind in the sails of UK industry, at least in the global shipping sector.