Crossing the Rubicon means to irrevocably commit to a course of action. Our decisive actions to revert climate change is our modern-day crossing of the Rubicon.
We are pushing forward, finding a sustainable way to pass freight over the Atlantic and all over the world with minimal environmental impact. Because change has to happen.
We want to be part of the solution, leading the way in shipping. And push the development so that Oceanbird can bring about major change.
It’s the beginning of a new era and a continuation of our journey towards truly sustainable shipping.
Thousands of years have passed since we learnt to harness the wind so that ocean-going vessels could travel faster and further. The wind helped us discover our planet – now it can help us preserve it. Innovative Swedish technology will make it possible to power the largest ocean-going vessels by wind, reducing emissions by 90 percent.
Oceanbird is a new concept that makes it possible to harness the wind to power the largest ocean-going vessels, the ones transporting heavy cargo over long distances for long periods of time. It is being developed in close collaboration between Wallenius Marine, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and SSPA.
can be carried in the cargo hold
lower emissions than a vessel with a diesel engine
with 80 metres tall wing sails for forward propulsion
to cross the Atlantic with the wind as energy source
The 200 metre long and 40 meters wide cargo vessel will be able to cross the Atlantic in 12 days. The wing sails are all of 80 metres tall, giving the ship a height above water line of appr. 105 metres, but thanks to a telescopic construction they can be lowered, resulting in a vessel height above water line of appr. 45 metres.
The 80 metres wing sails – twice the height of masts on the largest conventional sailing vessels on the seas today – will be imposing. With a height above water line around 105 metres it may be the tallest ship in the world.
