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Wind-Powered Breakthrough: Brands Hatch Becomes World’s First Wind-Assisted Aframax Tanker
In June 2025, Union Maritime officially launched Brands Hatch, the world’s first newly built Aframax LR2 tanker featuring wind-assisted propulsion. The vessel was constructed at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), and integrates BAR Technologies’ patented WindWings® technology.
The tanker is fitted with three rigid WindWings®, each standing 37.5 meters high. These automated wing sails adjust based on real-time wind conditions to provide supplementary propulsion, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The vessel is expected to save approximately 1,200 to 1,300 tonnes of fuel annually, equating to a reduction of over 3,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
Brands Hatch is reported to deliver approximately 30 percent greater fuel efficiency compared to Aframax tankers constructed in 2022. These gains will position the vessel favorably under current and upcoming environmental regulations, including the EU’s FuelEU Maritime initiative, which offers a five percent Wind Reward Factor for compliant vessels.
The development of this vessel is part of Union Maritime’s wider sustainability initiative, with plans to launch a fleet of 34 wind-assisted ships. Of these, at least 14 will be equipped with WindWings®. The initiative follows a multi-national collaboration involving BAR Technologies, Union Maritime, WindWings manufacturer CMET, and a regulatory framework spanning 13 countries under Project AeroPower.
Beyond tankers, BAR Technologies has also indicated its plans to extend WindWings® to other vessel types, including carriers designed for CO₂ transport. The success of Brands Hatch demonstrates the commercial and environmental viability of wind propulsion in large-scale shipping and sets a precedent for the industry as it works toward reducing its carbon footprint.
Brands Hatch serves as a milestone in the global maritime sector's transition to greener technologies, combining innovative engineering with regulatory foresight to pave the way for cleaner, more efficient ocean transport.
