Not reinventing the wheel, rediscovering the wind

During Europort 2025 at Rotterdam Ahoy, Winds4Change hosted an inspiring seminar dedicated to the future of wind-assisted propulsion in commercial shipping.
Bringing together shipowners, researchers, innovators, and policymakers, the event explored how the maritime sector can accelerate the uptake of wind technologies to meet its decarbonisation goals.

Winds4Change is a collaborative action research initiative that unites Erasmus University Rotterdam, Delft University of Technology, and partners from the Missouri Delta Initiative. Their goal is to bridge research and practice,  engaging business leaders, engineers, and NGOs to co-create pathways for a more sustainable, wind-powered maritime industry.
As co-founder Dr. Maurice Jansen (Erasmus University) explained during the opening session: "We are advocates for wind propulsion in commercial shipping. By connecting science and practice, we aim to help the industry adopt wind technology faster, smarter, and at scale.” He also highlighted the growing enthusiasm beyond the industry: "Whenever we engage the public, people ask the same thing: why did we ever stop using the wind?”

A Dynamic Seminar Programme
Moderated by Dr. Lucy Gilliam, the Winds4Change seminar offered a mix of presentations, interactive workshops, and a closing panel discussion focused on enabling technologies.
The afternoon concluded with breakout discussions on technology acceptance and practical barriers to implementation.
Later on, a panel on data-driven performance and enabling technologies featured experts from DNV, Oceanographic, Albatross Digital, North Power, and Econowind, alongside an experienced ship captain sharing operational lessons from the bridge.

Industry Story: ChemShip’s Wind-Propelled Journey
One of the highlights came from Niels Grotz, CEO of ChemShip, who shared the remarkable story of how his company retrofitted a chemical tanker with modern sails, the first of its kind in the world. Driven by both professional ambition and personal passion for sailing, Grotz saw wind power as a logical next step for ChemShip’s sustainability journey. "For us, sustainability isn’t a buzzword, it’s a business priority,” he said. Working with Dutch startup Econowind, ChemShip installed lightweight foldable sails on the Chemical Challenger. The process involved new class approvals, stability calculations, and crew training. "We had to teach our sailors how to sail again,” Grotz noted with a smile.

Once operational, the sails were connected to a digital engine monitoring system, allowing the engine to automatically reduce power when the wind provided thrust. The combination delivered approximately 15% fuel savings, demonstrating real-world potential for hybrid wind-engine operations.

The project drew international attention and renewed confidence that wind propulsion can work, even on complex, high-safety vessels like chemical tankers.

Pioneering Zero-Carbon Shipping
From Le Havre, Guillaume Legrand, Co-founder and CEO of TOWT (TransOceanic Wind Transport), joined online to share his company’s pioneering work in fully wind-powered cargo shipping. TOWT operates two modern windships with six more under construction,  a bold vision for zero-carbon logistics.

"We want to prove that global trade can be modern, efficient, and sustainable,” said Legrand. Their first newbuild, Anemos, marks a new generation of industrial-scale sailing cargo vessels.

A floating laboratory
Fabian Rondel joined the seminar remotely to share insights into Greenpeace’s newest zero-emission campaign vessel, currently under construction. The ship represents the NGO’s latest step toward aligning its global environmental mission with its own operational footprint at sea.

Rondel explained how the new vessel combines wind-assisted propulsion with a hybrid energy system that integrates advanced batteries and solar generation, allowing Greenpeace to reduce emissions across its worldwide campaigns. "For decades, our ships have been platforms for environmental action,” he noted, "but they must also embody the change we advocate for. Wind propulsion gives us the opportunity to operate globally without compromising on our principles.”

The vessel will serve as a floating laboratory for sustainable technologies, testing future-ready solutions that could later be scaled to the broader maritime sector. Greenpeace’s engagement in the seminar highlighted that wind power is not just a commercial or regulatory issue, but part of a wider societal transition toward cleaner oceans and responsible global trade.

Data, Collaboration, and the Road Ahead
The closing panel discussion emphasised the role of data and digital integration in unlocking the full potential of wind-assisted shipping. Accurate data collection, transparent reporting, and open collaboration between technology developers and operators were identified as key enablers for scaling up across the sector. As the seminar concluded, participants agreed: wind propulsion is no longer a nostalgic concept; it’s a critical component of shipping’s decarbonised future. "We’re not reinventing the wheel,” one participant remarked.  "We’re rediscovering the wind.”