Last August, the giant cargo ship Pyxis Ocean, equipped with innovative WindWing sails, each as tall as a 10-story building, set sail from China to Brazil. After the six-week maiden voyage, several more voyages were made, and shipping company Cargill recently shared the results of those voyages. It looks like WindWing sails could be a promising way to reduce emissions from existing ships.

Thanks to the use of 37.5-meter WindWing sails, which provide wind-powered propulsion, Cargill announced that it was able to achieve 14 percent fuel savings on its bulk carrier. The vessel, named Pyxis Ocean, is equipped with two BAR Technologies patented WindWing sails. During six months of testing on global trade routes, these sails generated enough energy to save an average of three tons of fuel per day.

Cargill announced that fuel consumption was reduced by more than 12 tons per day on voyages in the most favorable weather conditions in parts of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans.