A new sail design for cargo ships is propelling the maritime industry to a more sustainable future

• Cargo vessels account for nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring a need for energy-efficient solutions.
• WISAMO from Michelin is a new automated wing sail design that harnesses the wind for propulsion.
• Its innovative design, with a goal of lowering carbon emissions by up to 50%, can propel the maritime industry to a more sustainable future.

Long before cargo vessels hauled millions of gallons of oil to fuel their voyages, merchant ships hoisted their sails using the wind. An innovative new design is bringing these sails back using groundbreaking 21st-century technology that could propel the maritime industry to a greener, more sustainable future.

WISAMO from Michelin — its name is a combination of the words wing, sail, and mobility — is an inflatable, retractable, and automated wing sail. While it's not intended to replace ships' engines entirely, it lightens their loads and decreases their dependence on fuel. According to Michelin, the company that manufactured the design, the goal is to cut carbon emissions by up to 20% for existing ships and up to 50% for newly-built models.

"It is a revolutionary design that harnesses the wind — a free, universal, and inexhaustible source of propulsion," Gildas Quemeneur, executive director of WISAMO, said. "Decarbonization has become a vital way to limit environmental impact, and solutions need to come in many different forms. WISAMO is an important innovation that can help the maritime industry reach its ambitious goals."

An industry ripe for transformation

Energy-efficient solutions are sorely needed in the maritime industry, which transports 90% of the world's goods. The average size of container ships has doubled in the last 20 years, and the vessels now account for nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. 

To improve its environmental profile, the International Maritime Organization has set a goal of cutting carbon emissions by at least 20% by 2030 and 70% by 2040, intending to reach carbon net zero by 2050. Ships must make drastic changes to achieve these goals — a daunting task considering that 99% rely on conventional heavy fuel oil. WISAMO was introduced as a solution at Michelin's 2021 Movin'On World Summit for Sustainable Mobility, a forum of over 5,000 public and private stakeholders seeking to solve the challenges of sustainable transportation. Michelin's engineers began testing WISAMO on French sailing champion Michel Desjoyeaux's yacht later that year. 

Designed to propel into the future 

Unlike a traditional sail, which has a flat surface, WISAMO from Michelin is inflatable, reducing mechanical stress and increasing durability. When conditions are suitable for capturing the wind, small fans inside the sail fill it with air as a telescopic mast raises it high above the deck. When the ship returns to port, passes under a bridge, or encounters winds above 55 knots, the mast lowers and the sail deflates into neat folds atop the deck. 

These actions are performed digitally and automatically, with sensors determining optimal settings for smooth, efficient sailing. The sail is simple to install and operate, and can be used by commercial ships and pleasure craft alike.

"The WISAMO wing sail has one of the broadest ranges of wind use on the market, with proven effectiveness on many points of sail. It is particularly efficient upwind," Gildas Quemeneur said.

Its automated operation is critical for cargo ships, which are sparsely crewed with staff who may lack sailing experience. Retractable sails make loading and unloading freight easy, especially for "ro-ro ships" that carry cars, motorcycles, buses, and other vehicles, which are typically rolled onto the deck and rolled off at their destination.

After gaining feedback from Desjoyeaux, Michelin began testing a second prototype on the Compagnie Maritime Nantaise ro-ro ship MN Pelican. The ship's routes include the Bay of Biscay, notorious for its rough seas and strong winter winds. The robust WISAMO from Michelin has stood up well to these conditions, and the Pelican's captain and crew say they are impressed with its efficient operation.

While the current model of WISAMO from Michelin measures 1,076 square feet, Michelin is developing a larger version that reaches 8,611 square feet. Large container ships could deploy as many as six of the large sails. The first commercial deliveries are planned for 2026. 

Carrying and using less heavy fuel oil could also help shipping companies save money, and Michelin estimates the WISAMO will pay for itself in about five years. After that, it will continue to generate additional savings throughout its lifecycle.  

With its automated, easy-to-use features, WISAMO from Michelin is a boon for commercial and pleasure ships seeking energy-efficient solutions. Its innovative wind sail design could speed the shipping industry toward its environmental goals and significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. 

Learn more about WISAMO from Michelin and other innovations here. 

This post was created by Insider Studios with Michelin.