Sail

Marine

Airseas installs its first fuel-saving auto-kite on a cargo ship

French company Airseas has installed its first half-size automated Seawing kite to a cargo ship chartered by Airbus, and will commence six months of trials in January. The full-size kite is estimated to save up to 20 percent of fuel burn and emissions.

The sails won't replace the engines, but they should help to cut down on fuel usage and emissions

Marine

Michelin's inflatable sails hybridize freight ships to cut emissions

Beyond making tires for fast but inefficient cars, Michelin has its hand in more sustainable endeavors. Its Wing Sail Mobility project aims to increase efficiency in shipping with an inflatable sail that deploys and retracts on demand.

The SailStick is currently on Kickstarter

Outdoors

Folding SailStick lets longboarders catch the wind

Sails for longboard skateboards do already exist, but they're pretty big – about the size of a sailboard sail. The SailStick, however, folds down for relatively easy carrying and storage when not in use.

The Oceanbird's giant wing sails can retract to a quarter of their length for overhead clearance or safety in storms

Marine

Oceanbird's huge 80-meter sails reduce cargo shipping emissions by 90%

This concept ship, due to sail in 2024, can carry 7,000 cars across the Atlantic in 12 days. It's some 50% slower on average than a comparable diesel ship, but burns next to no fuel thanks to its five colossal wing sails, saving money and emissions.

The CycleWing is presently on Kickstarter

Bicycles

Retractable sail could give bikes a boost of wind power

Although there's nothing like cycling with a good tailwind, your bike and your body are only capable of catching a limited amount of that wind. The CycleWing was designed to help, acting as – you guessed it – a sail for your bike.

The Wave Chaser 390 ZF in action on Sydney Harbour

Marine

Wave Chaser refines its catamaran-style craft into the 390 ZF

With its unique twin-hull design, the Wave Chaser wants to deliver an intriguing blend of windsurfing and sailing-style fun to the masses. Having launched a prototype last year, the company has further refined its unique idea and created the Wave Chaser 390 ZF.

Marine

Vindskip ship concept uses the hull as a sail

With its Vindskip (or Windship), the Norwegian designers at Lade AS have come up with an intriguing concept for a partly wind-powered "hybrid" merchant ship.

The Aquarius Eco Ship concept based on the EnergySail technology that uses solar panels embedded in rigid sails

Marine

EnergySails harness wind and solar power to cut ship fuel consumption

Eco Marine Power's EnergySails can be fitted with solar panels to harness both wind and solar energy.

B9 Shipping's sailing cargo ships would feature a Dyna-rig sail system

Marine

B9 Shipping developing 100 percent fossil fuel-free cargo sailing ships

Ireland-based B9 Shipping has started work on a full-scale demonstration vessel as part of its goal to design the modern world’s first 100 percent fossil fuel-free sailing cargo ships.

Depiction of a cargo ship equipped with the Wind Challenger Project system of sails

Science

Next-gen cargo ships could use 164-foot sails to lower fuel use by 30%

A new generation of sail-equipped hybrid cargo ships could use up to 30% less fuel.

Marine

North Sails unfurls game-changing new sail technology

North Sails have woven an interesting array of tricks into their unique new 3Di line of "canvas" - laminated, heat-molded sails that hold their shape so well, they come close to performing like rigid airfoils.

Cargill Ocean Transportation has announced that it will be installing a SkySails wind propulsion system on one of its cargo ships, the largest ever to receive such technology (Image: Cargill)

Environment

Cargill ship will be largest ever to utilize kite power

Cargill Ocean Transportation has announced that it will be installing a SkySails wind propulsion system on one of its cargo ships, the largest ever to receive such technology.