Hyundai, BAR Technologies partner on wind-assisted propulsion

June 2, 2026

The collaboration between HHI and BAR Technologies will support expanding wind-assisted propulsion across a vessel segments as shipowners seek viable solutions to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. BAR Technologies image.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and BAR Technologies have established a strategic partnership focused on technical collaboration and commercial opportunities for the integration of BAR’s WindWings propulsion system.

“As one of the world’s leading shipbuilders, with its Ulsan yard recognized as the largest shipbuilding facility globally, HHI brings significant scale to the deployment of the technology,” the companies said in a joint statement issued in Athens June 2. ‘This agreement establishes a joint engineering approach at the vessel design stage, enabling a more integrated and consistent application of WindWings in newbuild vessels.”

BAR Technologies’ system uses a patented three-element wing design delivering 2.5 times the lift of a single-element wing. WindWings require no continuous power for suction fans or mechanical spinning, and automatically adjust camber and angle of attack for optimized efficiency across a wide range of wind conditions.

With the new memorandum of agreement the two companies will collaborate on the technical development of interfacing the WindWings® control system with HHI’s integrated vessel control system and developing performance verification methodologies to support scalable commercial deployment.

HHI’s collaboration with BAR Technologies reflects shared confidence in the performance and reliability of the three-element rigid wing sail design, and its potential to contribute to fuel efficiency and emissions reduction in commercial shipping.

The collaboration is…

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