Sustainable shipping: Sailing high

In summer 2024, Captain Hadrien Bissou prepared his cargo ship, the Anemos, for its maiden voyage across the Atlantic. Unlike traditional container ships powered by heavy fuel oil, this vessel relied entirely on wind propulsion. The Anemos marked a rare milestone, being the first such ship in the 21st century to carry over 1,000 tons of freight solely using sails. It transported French products including spirits and other goods from the port of Concarneau in Brittany. This journey came amid growing concerns over the environmental impact of maritime shipping and the vulnerability of global supply chains during the ongoing oil crisis. The Anemos was one of several new vessels designed with wind power as their primary propulsion system. Two years after its launch, the need for alternative shipping methods has become even more urgent. According to estimates, around 80 to 90 percent of global trade moves via containerships, which rely heavily on fossil fuels. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz had already disrupted parts of this trade, highlighting how dependent the industry is on oil and how vulnerable it can be to geopolitical tensions. Heavy fuel oil, the main energy source for container ships, is a byproduct of oil refining processes. It is highly toxic and harmful to the environment, contributing significantly to climate change. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, has acknowledged these issues and set a target for the entire global shipping sector to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. This goal has spurred research into synthetic fuels such as methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen, though their production remains costly and time-consuming. To reduce emissions, the shipping industry has explored various wind-assisted technologies. These include kite-like systems attached to freighters and large rotating cylinders known as Flettner rotors, which function similarly to sails. Engineers estimate that these systems can save up to 15 percent of energy consumption, assuming they are used effectively at sea. Modern freighters like the Anemos go further, being constructed specifically for wind propulsion from the outset. According to operators, these ships can cut CO2 emissions by up to 90 percent compared to conventional vessels. Four such modern wind-powered freighters were launched in 2024, three of them in France. A fourth, the 48-meter-long JurenAE, was built by the Hochschule Emden/Leer for the Marshall Islands. Since 2022, the JurenAE has been operating in the Pacific region, transporting goods between the Marshall Islands and supporting existing motorized ships. Its design reflects a comprehensive approach to integrating wind power into shipbuilding, from the top of the mast down to the keel. The push toward sustainable shipping is part of broader efforts to address climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. While challenges remain, particularly in scaling up production of alternative fuels and ensuring widespread adoption of wind-assisted technologies, the success of vessels like the Anemos and JurenAE demonstrates that viable solutions exist. As the world continues to grapple with rising oil prices and the instability of global supply chains, the role of wind-powered shipping is likely to grow in importance.