Topic, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding and OceanWings complete rigid tiltable wingsail retrofit aboard bulk carrier

Tsuneishi Shipbuilding and OceanWings have announced the successful completion of OceanWings rigid wingsail installation aboard the Ultramax bulk carrier Maria Topic. Retrofitted at Tsuneishi Shipbuilding in Japan, the vessel now returns to commercial service, marking a major milestone in OceanWings' commercial deployment and in the adoption of wind-assisted propulsion for merchant shipping.

The companies say that successful retrofit demonstrates the production, delivery, and installation capabilities of the project partners for deploying Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion (WASP) solutions to the dry bulk market.

The successful retrofit of Maria Topic also reflects the shared commitment of Topic, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding and OceanWings in accelerating the decarbonisation of commercial shipping.

Topic CEO Alex Albertini said: “Maria Topic follows Paolo Topic in our journey towards more sustainable shipping. By adding wind-assisted propulsion to an existing bulk carrier, we are continuing to invest in practical technologies that reduce fuel consumption and emissions across our fleet. OceanWings and Tsuneishi Shipbuilding demonstrated a strong understanding of our operational requirements, allowing the retrofit to be completed within the dry dock period.”