To address this, OceanWings has focused heavily on the ability to retrofit existing vessels. Large segments of the industry, including tankers, bulkers, and LNG carriers, are prime candidates for these upgrades. By installing automated wings on ships that are already mid-way through their operational lives, the industry can achieve immediate and significant reductions in emissions without waiting for a total fleet turnover. This ability to "green" the existing fleet is perhaps the most practical tool currently available for hitting mid-term carbon reduction goals.
When the conversation shifts to the environmental impact, the numbers become difficult to ignore. Schalit explains the "carbon maths" with a clarity that strips away the romanticism of sailing and replaces it with cold, hard logic. In the shipping industry, emissions are often measured on a "well-to-wake" basis, which accounts for the entire lifecycle of the fuel, from extraction and refining to combustion at sea. Under this metric, one tonne of heavy fuel oil is equivalent to roughly four tonnes of CO2. Consequently, every tonne of fuel saved by a wing sail prevents four tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
The impact of a single wing sail is substantial. According to Schalit, one wing can save approximately 1.3 tonnes of fuel per day, which equates to about five tonnes of CO2 daily. When considering an average commercial vessel that sails roughly 200 days per year, a single wing sail can reduce carbon emissions by 1,000 tonnes annually. Given that many large ships could accommodate multiple wings, the cumulative savings for a single vessel are enormous.
Over the lifespan of the technology, the environmental return on investment is even more striking. OceanWings designs its systems for a minimum durability of 25 years. This means that a single wing sail has the potential to save 25,000 tonnes of CO2 over its operational life. This long-term perspective is vital for ship owners who are looking for stable, long-term solutions to tightening environmental regulations.
Naturally, any discussion about green technology must address the carbon footprint of the technology itself. Schalit is transparent about the "scope one, two, and three" emissions involved in the manufacturing process. He estimates that it costs approximately 500 tonnes of CO2 to manufacture, transport, and install one of these massive wing systems. However, when weighed against the 25,000 tonnes of CO2 the system is expected to save, the trade-off is clear. The technology pays back its "carbon debt" in a fraction of its lifespan, resulting in a net benefit that Schalit describes as a source of daily motivation for his team.
