A group led by the University of Tokyo has launched its own hybrid ship concept, the ‘UT Wind Challenger’, based on a combination of sail power and engines, claimed to cut fuel consumption by an average of 30%.

The project aims to substantially reduce fuel consumption by large merchant vessels, using large retractable sails, 20m wide by 50m high. The group has carried out simulations for routes such as Yokohama to Seattle; results indicate that hybrid ships with sails and engines could reduce annual fuel consumption by about 30% on average.