The shipping industry, which relies almost entirely on fossil fuels to transport more than 80% of all internationally traded goods by volume, has taken a massive leap towards decarbonization with a technique that harks back to earlier times – sails.

The Pyxis Ocean, fitted with two WindWings installed at China’s COSCO shipyard, set sail from Singapore on its way to Brazil, to test cutting-edge wind propulsion techniques in commercial shipping for the first time.

The WindWings, made from steel and fibreglass, were fitted on its cargo ship decks to capture and utilize wind energy. They are expected to generate huge cost savings on fuel – up to 30% on new build vessels on average and even higher if combined with alternative fuels.