BAR Technologies‘ WindWings were retrofitted onto one of Cargill‘s ships, the Singapore-flagged bulk freighter Pyxis Ocean, in the hopes the technology would save fuel. The results are in, newatlas.com reported, after a six-month sea trial during which the ship crossed the Indian, Pacific, North and South Atlantic oceans, and passed Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope.

The foldable steel and glass fiber sails, which stand 123 feet tall, are made to add extra propulsion in areas favorable for sailing. They can automatically trim themselves as needed to make the ship go faster, thus reducing the use of the diesel engines, but still maintaining speed.

The crew doesn’t even have to think about when to activate the sails, as a signal system tells them when to turn them on or off.

The good news is that during the sea trials, the ship saved about 3.3 tons of fuel a day and a general savings of 14% which, along with a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, is impressive. The only question now is one of size: Will ships equipped with large sails be compatible with many global ports? (Photo: Cargill)