Japanese consortium to offer rigid sail system to the retrofit market

Three Japanese companies have joined forces to commercialise rigid sails as a new energy-saving device for shipping.

Hiroshima-based shipbuilder Tsuneishi Shipbuilding, in partnership with Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding and Akishima Laboratories, will be developing a wing-shaped rigid sail to be used as an auxiliary propulsion device on existing ships.

According to Tsuneishi, the rigid sail device can be installed on existing vessels with minimal modifications.

The shipbuilder will coordinate the entire development project, design work, and manufacturing of the sails, while Mitsui will study the control system and sail shape. Akishima Laboratories, meanwhile, will carry out a performance evaluation of the sail using CFD analysis and other methods.

The sail will be installed on a yet-to-be named vessel in 2026 and will go into commercialisation the following year.