Oceanbird has completed installation and successful harbour and sea acceptance trials of its first onboard Wing560 rigid wing sail aboard Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s 230m pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) Tirranna. The milestone marks the Swedish company’s transition from prototype development to commercial demonstration, following design certification by classification society DNV and a rapid retrofit programme completed at Damen Shipyard in Rotterdam.
The installation represents one of the most significant commercial demonstrations yet of wind-assisted propulsion for deep-sea vehicle carriers. Oceanbird, the 50:50 joint venture between Alfa Laval and Wallenius Lines, will now gather operational data from the vessel during commercial service to assess performance, efficiency and operational integration before wider market deployment.
Prototype enters commercial service
Installation of the Wing560 took place between 21 and 24 June at Damen Shipyard in Rotterdam, with Tirranna departing on her next commercial voyage immediately afterwards. Harbour Acceptance Testing (HAT) and Sea Acceptance Testing (SAT) were completed by 1 July, confirming the system’s readiness for operational service. DNV had granted the design certificate during the first week of June, verifying compliance with applicable safety, regulatory and technical requirements for the vessel.
The Wing560 fitted to Tirranna stands 46m high and 14m wide, providing a substantial aerodynamic surface to generate auxiliary thrust. Oceanbird engineers will remain aboard the vessel for an initial evaluation period, collecting operational data, monitoring system performance and measuring the wing’s efficiency under commercial trading conditions. The company said the installation demonstrates its safety philosophy through multiple built-in redundancies and features developed specifically for large merchant vessels.
Commercial focus follows years of development
“This is a pivotal moment for us, and it is just the beginning. Our team has worked incredibly hard to get here and we are so proud of the talent, research and dedicated work behind this prototype. We are very excited to see Wing560 perform at sea so we can prove the value of our efforts. This installation is the next step in our journey to create wind propulsion systems,” said Oceanbird chief executive Amrit Bhullar.
Bhullar took over as chief executive in January 2026 with a mandate to strengthen Oceanbird’s commercial focus after the successful demonstration of the first full-scale Wing560 ashore during 2025. The company was established in 2021 as a joint venture between Alfa Laval and Wallenius Lines to commercialise rigid wing sail technology for deep-sea shipping. Earlier this year, it secured its first commercial order for two Wing560 units scheduled for retrofit installation during 2027.
Data will determine wider adoption
Wallenius Wilhelmsen views the project as an operational evaluation rather than a technology demonstrator alone. “Exploring wind-assisted propulsion builds on a long history of testing new solutions to improve energy efficiency in our fleet. This is a full-scale installation in commercial operation, giving us the opportunity to learn how this technology performs in practice. It’s an important step in evaluating how solutions like this can work alongside our existing efforts as part of a broader approach to reducing emissions,” said Lars Ekren, Senior Manager – Newbuildings and Conversions.
Martijn Bergink, President of Alfa Laval’s Ocean Division, added: “With successful installation and sea trial, Oceanbird has moved from vision to reality, and we are proud to be part of this journey. We deeply appreciate the Oceanbird team’s commitment and innovation that have made this achievement possible. It is rewarding to collaborate on technology that supports the energy transition through wind energy technology. We look forward to the next deliveries and to continuing this journey together.” Wallenius Lines chief executive Erik Nøklebye described the installation as “an important step in the commercialisation of wind propulsion for the global fleet”, adding that the company had “a long tradition of enabling new technologies and driving innovation together with partners”.
Wind assistance moves towards the mainstream
Rigid wing sails are increasingly being evaluated as a practical means of reducing fuel consumption and emissions by supplementing conventional propulsion. Unlike traditional soft sails, modern wing sails employ automated control systems, can rotate to optimise aerodynamic efficiency and are designed to fold or tilt when operational or navigational constraints require. Oceanbird’s Wing560 also incorporates safety features developed specifically for merchant shipping, including the ability to tilt in severe weather conditions.
Oceanbird has previously stated that a single Wing560 installation can reduce fuel consumption and associated emissions by up to 10% on suitable trading routes, with greater savings potentially available through multiple-wing installations. Data collected aboard Tirranna will be used to validate those projections under real operating conditions and support future commercial deployments across the vehicle carrier sector and other deep-sea vessel types.