Maersk is testing a giant spinning cylinder to cut fuel use on cargo ships
On a cargo ship packed with 8,700 shipping containers, there isn’t much room for anything else. But in a new test aboard one of its vessels, Maersk is making an exception for a giant rotor sail—a spinning cylinder 10 to 12 stories tall that harnesses wind to help reduce fuel use. The test comes as shipping fuel costs continue to soar . In some areas, the price has risen as much as 76% since the…
Maersk is conducting a trial of a large rotor sail—a 10 to 12-story tall spinning cylinder—to help reduce fuel consumption on its cargo ships. The test vessel, carrying 8,700 shipping containers, provides a limited space for such a device. With soaring fuel costs, often rising by up to 76% in some regions since the Iran war, the rotor sail technology, developed by U.K.-based Anemoi, offers a potential solution to both cut costs and lower carbon emissions.
The rotor sail operates by harnessing wind, similar to how an aircraft wing generates lift, creating a pressure difference that pushes the ship forward. Each sail can potentially save around 1 ton of fuel per day, translating into up to 20 tons saved when wind conditions are optimal. This reduction also results in a 3-ton decrease in CO2 emissions.
While each ton of fuel saved could save hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for a vessel, the payback period for the device is typically around five years, faster on routes with stricter emissions regulations. This is Maersk's first installation of the rotor sail on a container ship; the technology has previously been tested on bulk carriers.
Successful implementation could revolutionize the container shipping market. Installation is planned for mid-2027, and the ship will track performance during regular Atlantic crossings. Even as ships transition to lower-carbon fuels, the rotor sail provides a complementary alternative, as wind power is not reliant on predicting fuel usage.
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