Update 20 Oct 2026, 22:32 UTC:
The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD), AIM Horizon Investments, and Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) have announced the financing of two significant wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS) projects through the innovative Fund for Energy Efficiency Technologies (FEET). This marks the inaugural deployment of the fund, which aims to combine verified fuel savings with a pay-as-you-save financing structure.
FEET, the world’s first fund dedicated to linking energy efficiency technology (EET) savings to financing, is managed by AIM Horizon Investments with GCMD acting as the decarbonisation advisor. It benefits from the support of the Development Bank of Japan, DBS Bank, and ING.
Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems
The first projects financed by FEET involve the MV Pacific Sentinel and MV Pacific Sunstone, both vessels now equipped with three 22-metre suction sails. This deployment makes them the initial vessels within EPS’s fleet to utilize wind-assisted technology, anticipated to yield considerable fuel efficiency gains.
The collaborative effort to quantify the effectiveness of the WAPS began with GCMD’s analysis of data from the MV Pacific Sentinel, which involved collecting 276 million data points from trading activities in the Americas over four months. This comprehensive data set allowed for the isolation of the WAPS’s impact on the vessel’s operational efficiency, providing 203 valid performance transitions for analysis.
Innovative Financing Structure
The cornerstone of FEET’s financing approach lies in its ability to connect payments directly to independently verified fuel savings generated by these technologies. The methodology developed during the MV Pacific Sentinel project will be applied to the WAPS projects funded by FEET, ensuring transparency and reliability in the assessment of operational performance.
According to Professor Lynn Loo, CEO of GCMD, establishing a proven method for quantifying fuel savings is crucial for scaling the adoption of EETs. The successful implementation and monitoring of these initial projects are expected to foster investor confidence, ultimately facilitating the uptake of similar technologies across the maritime sector.
Future Implications
Marcel de Bruijckere, CEO of AIM Horizon Investments, highlighted the enhanced cooperation and technical expertise gained from working with EPS as key to the fund’s successful start. This initiative stands as a potential blueprint for financing maritime innovations by linking proof of effectiveness with actionable financial models.
As this partnership moves forward, the broader implications for the industry center on how effectively technologies can be integrated, measured, and financed. The outcomes from the FEET fund’s ventures will be closely monitored, with the results expected to influence future investment strategies and policies aimed at decarbonizing the maritime environment.
Behind the Headline
The deployment of wind-assisted propulsion systems represents a significant step forward in the maritime sector’s decarbonization journey. By tying financial mechanisms to verified efficiency gains, this approach not only incentivizes shipowners to invest in EETs but also mitigates risks associated with new technology adoption. The real test will be in accurately measuring performance under operational conditions and translating these findings into scalable solutions. As the industry evolves, the ongoing interactions between financing bodies and vessel operators could redefine investment in maritime technologies.
