Maersk’s 115ft rotor sail cuts fuel use by a tonne daily
The 35-metre rotor sail will be installed on an 8,700-TEU Lima-class vessel in mid-2027.
Maersk is pioneering wind-assisted propulsion in its container fleet with a new pilot project set to launch in mid-2027. The company will install a 115-foot rotor sail, developed by London-based Anemoi Marine Technologies, on one of its 8,700-TEU Lima-class vessels.
The sail will be retrofitted to a 984-foot container ship, which will operate on North and South Atlantic routes during the trial period. This marks Maersk’s first use of wind power technology in its ocean fleet, though the company has previously explored other emissions-reduction strategies.
According to Anemoi, each rotor sail can reduce fuel consumption by about one ton per day, cutting CO₂ emissions by roughly three tons. While the company typically installs three to five sails per vessel, this pilot will begin with a single unit to evaluate performance under real-world conditions.
A.P. Møller-Maersk
Part of a broader decarbonization strategy: wind-assisted propulsion
Maersk’s rotor sail initiative aligns with its fuel-agnostic approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The company has already made progress in this area, including the addition of 10 dual-fuel methanol vessels in 2025 and efficiency upgrades to 230 owned ships and 150 time-chartered vessels. These efforts helped lower Maersk’s ocean Energy Efficiency Operational Indicator (EEOI) to a record 10.8 gCO₂e per ton-nautical mile last year.
The company has set an ambitious target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2040. By 2027, Maersk expects to have 25 dual-fuel ships in service, with plans to expand this to 25% of its fleet capable of running on lower-emission fuels like bio- and e-methanol. The rotor sail pilot complements these efforts, offering another potential avenue for reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
Industry implications
While wind-assisted propulsion has been tested in other maritime sectors, this pilot represents the first installation of a rotor sail on a container ship. The trial could provide valuable insights for the broader shipping industry, which has traditionally relied on fossil fuels. Earlier this year, CMA CGM began operating the sail-assisted Neoliner Origin, a ro-ro vessel serving the Port of Baltimore.
If successful, the rotor sail pilot could encourage wider adoption of wind power technology in container shipping. Maersk’s approach—combining alternative fuels, efficiency improvements, and now wind-assisted propulsion—reflects a growing industry trend toward sustainability. The results of this trial may shape future strategies for reducing emissions across the maritime sector.
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