Japanese giants to integrate WindWings into ship designsJapanese giants to integrate WindWings into ship designs
BAR Technologies makes further inroads in Japan through Mitsubishi Corporation and Nihon Shipyard MoU.

BAR Technologies has partnered with Mitsubishi and Nihon Shipyard to bring its WindWings wind propulsion system to the Japanese market, building on the companies’ existing relationships.
Mitsubishi’s 2017-built Pyxis Ocean was the first vessel to be fitted with WindWings, setting sail with two of the 37.5 m sails from COSCO’s Shanghai yard in China in August 2023.
A new memorandum of understanding sets a framework for further co-operation between the companies in order to speed up the adoption of wind propulsion in the Japanese shipping market. The three signatories have agreed to leverage their expertise to deliver low-emission vessels, and look for opportunities to use WindWings in existing and novel ship designs.
Nihon Shipyard is the sales and vessel design joint venture of Japan’s Imabari Shipbuilding and Japan Marine United Corporation.
Alongside the development MoU, Mitsubishi Corporation has agreed to be BAR Technologies’ agent in Japan for WindWings.
Naoki Arima, general manager, Ship & Infrastructure Dept. Mitsubishi Corporation, said: “Having an existing, long and trustworthy relationship with BAR Technologies and its WindWings technology, we felt the next step in the partnership was to further integrate the offer, enabling us to provide more value to the industry, especially for Japanese shipping companies who are exploring ways to maintain a sustainable business.”
John Cooper, CEO, BAR Technologies, said: “As the third largest global shipping manufacturer, Japan has huge potential to drive positive change in the next generation of large commodities vessels.”
BAR’s new contracts this year includes a 34-vessel deal with Union Maritime to install WindWings on 14 LR2 tankers, 12 chemical tankers and eight MRs.
“With a rapidly growing pipeline of WindWings orders for vessels in other major shipping markets, the next logical stage in our journey was to seek a partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation and Nihon Shipyard to enable customers in Japan to ensure their fleets will be compliant with global shipping emissions regulations now and into the future,” added Cooper”
Tomoaki Takahira, Director, chief of Design Division Nihon Shipyard, said: “While the shipping industry is expecting to develop low CO2 emission design, this MoU will help us accelerate for such development through collaboration works of installing WindWings for existing and new vessel design with BAR technologies and Mitsubishi Corporation.”
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