Coastal cargo vessel to operate with aid of wind-assisted propulsion

The coastal cargo vessel Amadeus Titanium has begun operating with a wind-assisted propulsion system aimed at reducing fuel consumption and emissions in short-sea shipping.

The vessel, operated by Amadeus Schiffahrts- und Speditions GmbH, was fitted with VentoFoil units supplied by Econowind. The system was installed in Harlingen, Netherlands, and entered service at the end of March 2026. The technology, known as wind-assisted propulsion (WAPS), uses aerodynamic devices to supplement engine power.

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As informed, the system is expected to reduce fuel consumption by around 10 percent under typical operating conditions, which would correspond to lower CO₂ emissions.

By using WAPS, i.e. so-called ‘wind assistance propulsion systems’ such as the VentoFoils from Econowind, we’re able to save fuel in our short-sea transport operations for Covestro. This brings with it both economic and ecological benefits

… said Wolfgang Nowak, Managing Director of Amadeus Schiffahrts- und Speditions GmbH

The vessel is deployed on transport routes serving chemical company Covestro. The initiative is part of wider efforts in short-sea shipping to adopt incremental efficiency measures alongside conventional engine operations, rather than replacing them.

Industry stakeholders, including logistics provider HGK Shipping and its parent HGK Group, describe wind-assist systems as one of several available technologies being evaluated to reduce emissions in maritime transport without major changes to existing vessel designs.

Working with strategic partners such as Covestro, we’re seizing the opportunities that the market is opening up in the field of drive technologies, for example, or those that we’re developing for the design of vessels, often in conjunction with our customers

… commented Steffen Bauer, the CEO of the HGK Group and the CEO of HGK Shipping.

The deployment reflects a broader trend in the sector toward retrofit-based decarbonization measures, particularly in regional shipping where fuel savings can be achieved without altering operational patterns.