Wind Propulsion 2027: Proven Performance - Driving New Technologies with Real-World Data

Following a sold out event in 2026 that brought together more than 250 delegates from across the maritime sector, Wind Propulsion returns in 2027 and heads to Singapore for its biggest edition yet.

Aligned with Singapore Maritime Week, the event will offer even greater opportunities for networking, collaboration and industry insight. The 2026 conference featured support from leading sponsors including DNV, Lloyd's Register, Vaisala and MOL, while David Osborn, Director of the Marine Environment Division at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), delivered the keynote address.

** Tickets will go on sale as soon as the dates are confirmed ** 

The latest installations of wind propulsion technologies on large commercial vessels have pushed the global fleet of wind-assisted cargo ships beyond the 100-vessel milestone - a significant turning point in the uptake of wind propulsion across the sector.

Key figures (vessels over 400 GT):

• Installed vessels: 100+
• Deadweight tonnage: 5+ million tonnes
• Individual Wind Propulsion Systems installed: 230+
• Emissions reduction: 100,000+ tonnes of CO₂e annually, alongside substantial reductions in other emissions

These figures do not include the full breadth of activity across the sector, such as wind-ready vessels, research platforms, campaign vessels, traditionally rigged cruise ships, and dozens of smaller cargo vessels under 400 GT that are also utilising wind power.

Following several years of renewed investment in wind propulsion technologies, deployment is now accelerating rapidly, with vessel numbers roughly doubling year-on-year. This pace of early market expansion highlights how quickly these solutions are transitioning from niche applications into the commercial mainstream.

Projections from EU-commissioned research and the UK Clean Maritime Plan indicate that wind propulsion could be deployed across up to 15% of the global fleet by the early 2030s, increasing to 40–45% by the 2050s. Should the shipping industry and regulators pursue an ambitious course toward zero emissions these projections could prove to be conservative.

At the vessel level, wind propulsion technologies are already demonstrating proven performance. Retrofitted wind-assist systems can deliver 5–20% of a ship’s propulsive energy, while optimised, fully integrated newbuild designs can achieve significantly higher contributions. As a renewable energy source uniquely available to shipping, wind propulsion represents a critical pathway in the sector’s decarbonisation transition.

Since its inaugural edition in 2019, the Wind Propulsion Conference has established itself as a leading platform for industry stakeholders, including shipowners, shipyards, classification societies, technology developers, researchers, and policymakers, to exchange knowledge and drive collaboration.

The Wind Propulsion 2027 Conference, to be held in Singapore for the first time, will deliver critical insights into technology development, real-world performance, design integration, operational experience, and policy frameworks. Reflecting the region’s growing importance, we particularly encourage participation from shipowners, shipyards, and organisations based in Asia, as well as international collaborations with regional partners and customers.