On April 20, 2026, ContiOcean Environmental Technology Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “ContiOcean” )and OM Maritime Pte Ltd (hereinafter referred to as “OM”) held a signing ceremony for an order of wind-assisted propulsion systems. According to the agreement, the system will be installed on a 13,800 dwt Singapore-flagged tanker now under construction. The project marks one of the first deployments of ContiOcean's PowerFoil CPF18 technology on a small tanker, with the aim of cutting ship fuel consumption and reducing emissions.
PowerFoil CPF18 Technology Introduction
The PowerFoil CPF18 is a wind sail propulsion system developed based on the Coandă effect — the aerodynamic principle whereby airflow adheres to the curved sail surface to generate propulsive thrust. This skid-mounted system is purpose-engineered for all-weather operation and features minimal maintenance requirements. An integrated automated control system dynamically adjusts the sail configuration in real time to adapt to changing ambient conditions. According to ContiOcean, the technology delivers fuel savings of 15% to 30%, and has obtained approval from ClassNK for marine application.
The tanker, hull number 1139, is expected to demonstrate how wind-assisted propulsion can work practically on smaller commercial vessels — a segment where such technology has seen limited adoption to date.
Executives’ Remarks
"We chose this technology because it offers a credible path to reducing fuel costs while meeting tightening emissions regulations," said Capt. Subhangshu Dutt, CEO of OM . "For a vessel of this size, meaningful fuel savings can have a real impact on operating economics."
“PowerFoil CPF18 is designed to deliver measurable performance improvements to ships by taking wind power from nature directly. The top-mounted booster fans generate a vacuum pressure that guides the airflow along the contours of both the main sail and the flap sail, thereby producing lift and generating thrust for the vessel. PowerFoil automatic control system is always self-studying and continuously adjusting in connection with the apparent wind direction and speed. We are pleased to see this intelligent sail system being deployed, and both parties are committed to advancing a greener shipping industry that supports our sustainability journey.” added Mr. Jacky Zhou, Chairman of ContiOcean.