{
  "id": 6765856,
  "title": "Maersk is testing a giant spinning cylinder to cut fuel use on cargo ships",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/maersk-is-testing-a-giant-spinning-cylinder-to-cut-fuel-use-on-cargo",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-11T13:05:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91605320/maersk-is-testing-a-giant-spinning-cylinder-to-cut-fuel-use-on-cargo-ships"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "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…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}