Hapag-Lloyd joins ONE to install wind shields

Container carriers are leading shipping in adopting wind shields to cut fuel use.

German carrier Hapag-Lloyd is the latest to add wind shields, with Alphaliner carrying an image of a megamax newbuild under construction in South Korea featuring a large dome-shaped wind shield on its forecastle. Other Hapag-Lloyd ships under construction in China are also set to get similar devices installed.

Ocean Network Express (ONE) and CMA CGM were the first liners to readopt wind shields, latterly followed by Mediterranean Shipping Co.

Norasia, a containerline that was eventually bought by CSAV, and then folded into Hapag-Lloyd, featured smaller bow shields in a series of ships built around 20 years ago.

“These devices will reduce the ships’ aerodynamic resistance and thus help lower the fuel consumption and emissions. While the effect of wind deflectors is small at around 2%, little improvements on hull, propeller, engine, etc. add up to notable savings,” Alphaliner noted in its most recent weekly report.

“Despite their rather limited energy-saving potential, bow windscreens have become a popular option for newbuildings and retrofits,” Alphaliner noted. “This is because they are low-hanging fruit when it comes to emissions reductions and they require virtually no extra maintenance once installed.”

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Container carriers are increasingly adopting wind-assisted propulsion systems to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. German carrier Hapag-Lloyd has developed a concept design for a 4,500 TEU container ship equipped with eight rigid sails, known as OceanWings, to harness wind energy. This initiative is part of Hapag-Lloyd’s broader strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions by one-third by 2030, aligning with industry efforts to enhance sustainability in sea freight operations.