Orcelle Wind – introducing the world's first wind-powered RoRo vessel

Centuries ago, the first forays into global trade were taken by majestic wooden sailing vessels, venturing out on long and perilous journeys to carry their wares to foreign shores. Standards and expectations where very different then. But in today’s world of cost focus and just-in-time logistics, could wind actually be an option for reaching zero emission propulsion?

A wind-powered Pure Car Truck Carrier: the next bold leg in our voyage to zero emissions

Building on the Oceanbird concept developed by maritime consultancy Wallenius Marine, Wallenius Wilhelmsen will take the concept forward by applying its extensive knowledge from the RoRo business to the detailed design of the vessel’s features - like its cargo, storage areas - assess areas for operation, and conduct a comprehensive viability evaluation. 

The Orcelle Wind will need to prove its commercial viability. Success here will be heavily dependent on partnerships with customers and whether there is commitment in the market to adopting radical and innovative measures to drastically reduce the environmental footprint of outbound supply chains.

The Orcelle Wind is a manifestation of our purpose of ‘Sustainable logistics for a world in motion’, and is an important step on the journey toward zero emissions.

The next phase

With a concept that Wallenius Wilhelmsen deems viable for commercial operation, a second phase of the project will be initiated: The building and commissioning of the first ship of its kind.

The vessel will:

use wind as the main form of propulsion
operate at speeds of 10-12 knots under sail that can be increased with the supplemental power system
reduce emissions by as much as 90 percent
have a capacity to carry 7000 cars along with breakbulk and rolling equipment