The Silent Revolution: How 37.5m WindWings Are Rewriting the Rules of Shipping

Certified to Disrupt

The maritime industry just got a quiet nudge toward a cleaner future. BAR Technologies, the UK-based firm spun off from Ben Ainslie Racing’s America’s Cup campaign, just scored a Bureau Veritas (BV) Type Approval Design Certificate (TADC) for its 37.5m WindWings®—a rigid sail system now cleared for global deployment. This isn’t just paperwork: BV’s stamp confirms the wings meet international benchmarks for structural integrity, materials, load handling, and control systems after a grueling technical review. In an era where “net-zero” pledges often drown in greenwashing, WindWings delivers measurable cuts: 1.5 tons of fuel and 4.7 tons of CO2 saved daily per wing on typical routes.

“This certification isn’t a checkbox—it’s a key to unlock mass adoption,” says a BAR Technologies engineer. “Shipowners need certainty that wind propulsion won’t mean trading reliability for sustainability.”

Three Wings, Zero Power

What sets WindWings apart isn’t just size—it’s aerodynamics borrowed from Formula 1 and aerospace. The patented three-element design generates 2.5 times more lift than single-element sails, using passive boundary layer control to maximize efficiency. Unlike rotor sails or suction wings, these rigid foils demand no auxiliary power, relying instead on physics and a fail-safe feathering mechanism that automatically stows them in storms. “Think of it as a hybrid car’s regenerative braking, but for wind,” notes an industry analyst. “Every knot of breeze becomes free thrust.”

Early Adopters Set Sail

Union Maritime Ltd (UML) isn’t waiting for perfect conditions. The London-based operator is among the first to commit to WindWings under BV classification, with multiple retrofits planned. The math is compelling: at current fuel prices, each wing could slash $1,000+ daily in costs while dodging carbon taxes. With dual certification from BV and DNV—a rarity among wind-assisted systems—BAR Technologies now has IACS-class society endorsements that ease insurer and charterer anxieties. “This is about derisking decarbonization,” says a UML executive. “Wind is free. The tech works. Why wouldn’t you?”

“The 37.5m wings aren’t the endpoint,” adds a BAR spokesperson. “We’re scaling to 50m—because in shipping, bigger isn’t just better. It’s cheaper.”

As WindWings glide from prototype to production, one thing’s clear: the age of fossil-fueled shipping has finally met its stiffest headwind.