Leonhardt & Blumberg Installs Econowind Wind Propulsion on First Newbuild
Key Takeaways
- •Leonhardt & Blumberg completed the VentoFoil installation on the cargo vessel Hansa Drejoe at Royal Niestern Sander Shipyard in early August.
- •Econowind expects the VentoFoil system to provide roughly 10% additional thrust, lowering fuel consumption and CO2 emissions based on actual trading routes.
- •A second vessel named Hansa Christiansoe is currently at the shipyard receiving its own VentoFoil installation.
- •All four vessels in the series were designed from the outset to incorporate wind propulsion technology rather than being retrofitted as an afterthought.
- •The remaining two vessels are under construction in China and are scheduled to arrive in Europe during the first half of 2027.
German shipowner Leonhardt & Blumberg has equipped its general cargo vessel Hansa Drejoe with Econowind's VentoFoil wind propulsion system, marking the first of four planned newbuild installations.
The installation was completed at Royal Niestern Sander Shipyard in early August, Econowind confirmed in an emailed update on Wednesday. A second vessel, Hansa Christiansoe, is currently at the yard undergoing its own installation.
Econowind expects the VentoFoils to deliver approximately 10% additional thrust, reducing both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. That estimate is based on the vessels' actual trading routes over the course of a year.
All four vessels in the series were designed with wind propulsion in mind, making the retrofitting step part of a broader build plan rather than an afterthought. Two were delivered in 2025, while the remaining two are under construction in China and are scheduled to arrive in Europe during the first half of 2027.
The VentoFoil system consists of compact, autonomous wing units that use boundary layer suction to generate additional thrust and enhance aerodynamic efficiency.
"We see wind-assisted ship propulsion as a logical next step in our journey toward greener operations," said Christoph Meier, Naval Architect at Leonhardt & Blumberg.
Source: Ship & Bunker
