BAR Technologies targets Japanese market

UK-based wind sail developer, BAR Technologies, has signed a deal with Mitsubishi Corporation and Nihon Shipyard to expand its business in the Japanese market. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by the three parties which will see Mitsubishi acting as agent for BAR’s WindWings® systems and Nihon Shipyard potentially incorporating the technology on board the ships that it designs and builds.

The MoU follows the installation of the patented WindWings rigid sails on board Mitsubishi’s Kamsarmax bulk carrier, Pyxis Ocean, built in 2017. Now, the companies will combine their skill sets to market new low-emission vessels while also identifying opportunities to incorporate WindWings into existing and new vessel designs. Another part of the arrangement will see Mitsubishi Corporation acting as BAR Technologies’ agent for WindWings in Japan.

“We are excited to enter into this MoU with Mitsubishi Corporation and Nihon Shipyard,” declared John Cooper, BAR Technologies’ CEO, “combining our respective skillsets with the market scale to expedite low-emission shipping design and manufacturing into the Japanese merchant fleet, expanding our global presence. 

“As the third largest global shipping manufacturer, Japan has huge potential to drive positive change in the next generation of large commodities vessels. With a rapidly growing pipeline of WindWings orders for vessels in other major shipping markets, the next logical stage in our journey was to seek a partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation and Nihon Shipyard to enable customers in Japan to ensure their fleets will be compliant with global shipping emissions regulations now and into the future. We look forward to progressing this MoU with Mitsubishi and Nihon Shipyard in due course.” 

Naoki Arima, general manager of Mitsubishi Corporation’s Ship & Infrastructure Department, said: “Having an existing, long and trustworthy relationship with BAR Technologies and its WindWings technology, we felt the next step in the partnership was to further integrate the offer enabling us to provide more value to the industry, especially for Japanese shipping companies who are exploring ways to maintain a sustainable business.”

Speaking for the shipyard, director of its Design Division, Tomoaki Takahira, commented: “While the shipping industry is expecting to develop low CO₂ emission design, this MoU will help us accelerate for such development through collaboration works of installing WindWings for existing and new vessel design with BAR technologies and Mitsubishi Corporation.”