The waves beneath the wings

NORWAY’s Grieg Maritime Group, partner with Gearbulk in G2Ocean, has signed a contract with GT Wings to install at least two of their AirWing™20 Jet Sails on their fleet.

Grieg Star VP technology & Digitalisation Torleif Frimannslund and GT Wings CEO
Liam Campbell at the contract signing. Image: Grieg Maritime Group

The chosen trial ship for the installation is the 49,924 DWT open-hatch general cargo/bulk carrier Star Kirkenes, coincidentally currently discharging in Melbourne on G2Ocean’s monthly service from Asia.

The GT Wings AirWing™20 will enable Star Kirkenes to take advantage of the wind, significantly reducing fuel consumption, the companies say.

"Energy efficiency will be crucial for both climate action and commercial success going forward. Waiting for new fuels and new ships will not be enough to succeed; measures must also be implemented on the existing fleet.

"Reducing our fuel consumption will always make sense," Grieg Maritime Group CEO Matt Duke said. "Our technical team has spent months assessing different wind-assisted propulsion solutions. Upon seeing GT Wings’ technology, they were immediately intrigued. We are confident in their assessment and look forward to seeing our first ship with Jet Sails."

The AirWing™ was selected for its high thrust output and compact footprint, representing a new generation of Jet Sail technology designed to deliver market-leading performance in space-constrained applications.

The design of the AirWing™ makes it possible for the fitting of two such Jet Sails on the forecastle of Star Kirkenes. They will not interfere with the ship’s cargo operations or capacity. The installation will be done during drydock towards the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027.

The project marks the second full-scale AirWing™ vessel installation and a key step in GT Wings' scaling of commercial deployment. It also builds on recent strategic investment from Grieg Kapital, strengthening alignment between both organisations.

Liam Campbell, CCO, GT Wings said the global wind-assisted fleet is entering a major growth phase, with forecasts showing more than 80 additional vessels in operation by the end of 2026.

"Our partnership with Grieg Maritime Group, our first commercial order, is a key step in our growth strategy. With industrial-scale manufacturing now established in Nantong and Europe, we’re ready to meet rising demand and deliver high-quality equipment on time and at scale," he said.

"While substantial savings are possible, the actual impact is determined by the vessel’s trade pattern," technical project manager Marte Waage Haga in Grieg Star, stressed.

GT Wings’ CEO George Thompson said his company was delighted to be working closely with Grieg Maritime Group on this project and supporting their ambitions to lead on sustainable shipping.

"This collaboration marks an important milestone as we move into commercial deployment, continue to validate AirWing™ at scale, and demonstrate how wind propulsion can be deployed reliably across modern commercial fleets, delivering not only emissions reductions but also reducing exposure to volatile fuel prices, an increasingly important priority for shipowners."

The contract between Grieg Maritime Group and GT Wings is for two Jet Sails on Star Kirkenes, with an option to do the same on the other three K-class vessels.

GT Wings (GT Green Technologies Ltd) is a UK-based clean-technology company that has developed AirWing™, a high-energy-density wind-propulsion system for commercial shipping. Combining advanced aerodynamics, control systems, and modular industrial design, GT Wings delivers scalable fuel-saving solutions for retrofits and newbuilds, it says.