Wallenius and Alfa Laval will join forces to make Oceanbird a reality

Alfa Laval and Wallenius will form a 50/50 joint venture – AlfaWall Oceanbird – that will supply innovative wind propulsion solutions for cargo vessels and other ship types. The agreement was signed on June 28, 2021. The plan is to have the first Oceanbird system onboard a vessel within five years.

Shipping is responsible for 2-3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has targeted a 50 percent reduction of vessel-related greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Many countries and companies have already set decarbonization targets beyond the ones from the IMO – and the industry is in period of rapid change. To support the transformation towards more sustainable shipping, Alfa Laval continues to develop its toolbox of products and solutions for the industry. As part of this commitment, Alfa Laval is now joining forces with the Wallenius Group in the joint venture: AlfaWall Oceanbird.  The joint venture is subject to customary merger clearance from relevant regulatory authorities.

AlfaWall Oceanbird, will develop wind propulsion technologies valid for any vessel type. The first installation will be implemented on a transatlantic car carrier with a capacity of 7,000 cars, and with an average speed of 10 knots it will cut emissions by up to 90 percent compared to today’s most energy-efficient vessels, thereby supporting the maritime industry’s shift towards zero-emission shipping. While the technology is initially developed for cargo vessels, the ambition is to expand it to cruise liners and other vessels based on market demand.

Tom Erixon, President and CEO of Alfa Laval, says:

“Meeting the shipping industry’s decarbonization ambition will require multiple new solutions. In this new joint venture, we will combine the expertise of Alfa Laval and Wallenius, enabling us to develop a completely new and innovative vessel type that can contribute to the decarbonization targets.”

Jonas Kleberg, Chairman and CEO of Wallenius, says:

“At Wallenius we are always striving to move the agenda for truly sustainable shipping. Just as we did with PureBallast, we will now bring Oceanbird into this partnership with Alfa Laval. Together we will provide a powerful solution for sustainable shipping.”