Grieg Maritime Group has signed a contract with GT Wings for the installation of at least two AirWing 20 Jet Sails on its vessel Star Kirkenes, marking GT Wings’ first commercial order.

The installation is planned to take place during drydock towards the end of 2026 or at the start of 2027. The agreement also includes an option to fit the same system on the other three K-class vessels in the Grieg Star fleet.

The AirWing 20 units will be installed on the forecastle of Star Kirkenes and are designed so they do not affect the ship’s cargo operations or carrying capacity.

Matt Duke, CEO of Grieg Maritime Group, said: “Reducing our fuel consumption will always make sense. Our technical team has spent months assessing different wind-assisted propulsion solutions. Upon seeing GT Wings’ technology, they were immediately intrigued. We are confident in their assessment and look forward to seeing our first ship with Jet Sails.”

According to Grieg Star Technical Project Manager Marte Waage Haga, the level of fuel savings achieved will depend on the vessel’s trade pattern.

The project represents the second full-scale AirWing vessel installation and follows a recent strategic investment in GT Wings by Grieg Kapital.

Liam Campbell, CCO, GT Wings, said: “The global wind-assisted fleet is entering a major growth phase, with forecasts showing more than 80 additional vessels in operation by the end of 2026. Our partnership with Grieg Maritime Group, our first commercial order, is a key step in our growth strategy. With industrial-scale manufacturing now established in Nantong and Europe, we’re ready to meet rising demand and deliver high-quality equipment on time and at scale.”

George Thompson, CEO, GT Wings, remarked: “We’re delighted to be working closely with Grieg Maritime Group on this project and supporting their ambitions to lead on sustainable shipping. This collaboration marks an important milestone as we move into commercial deployment, continue to validate AirWing™ at scale, and demonstrate how wind propulsion can be deployed reliably across modern commercial fleets, delivering not only emissions reductions but also reducing exposure to volatile fuel prices, an increasingly important priority for shipowners.”

GT Wings, a UK-based clean-technology company, has developed the AirWing system as a wind-propulsion solution for commercial shipping, combining aerodynamics, control systems and modular industrial design.