Tankers have moved ahead of other ship types in the uptake of wind-assisted propulsion, with 37 vessels fitted with the technology, according to the International Windship Association.
Bulk carriers follow with 24 ships, matching the combined ro-ro and ro-pax segment. General cargo ships account for 19 vessels.
The global fleet of large commercial ships using wind propulsion has now passed 100 vessels, representing more than 5m dwt of cargo-carrying capacity. Those ships are fitted with more than 230 wind propulsion units and are estimated to cut CO2 emissions by more than 100,000 tonnes a year.
IWSA secretary general Gavin Allwright said the increase had been driven by “sustained testing, verification and commercial validation”. The association expects the wind-powered fleet to double over the next 12 months, reaching about 200 large commercial vessels by mid-2027.
IWSA’s public Q1 2026 vessel list includes installations on tankers, bulk carriers, ro-ro vessels, ferries and general cargo ships, covering both newbuildings and retrofit projects using rotor sails, suction sails and wing sails.
The International Windship Association is a London-based not-for-profit membership association focused on wind propulsion for commercial shipping. Its members include shipowners, technology developers, ports, regulators and other maritime stakeholders.
