HD Korea Shipbuilding Launches Innovative Hi-Wing Wind-Assisted Sailing System
Amid growing interest in wind-assist technologies in shipping, South Korea’s largest shipbuilding group — HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, part of the HD Hyundai holding — has unveiled its first sail system called Hi-Wing.
The prototype has successfully passed onshore testing, and sea trials will soon begin aboard an MR-class tanker owned by South Korea’s shipping giant HMM. The Hi-Wing is a 30-meter rigid sail that can be folded during adverse weather to maintain navigational stability.
Since 2021, wind-assist technologies have rapidly gained popularity in the global fleet. According to DNV data as of January 2025, 52 vessels are currently in operation using such technology, with another 97 vessels on order, in addition to numerous retrofit projects. Approximately 75% of these installations are retrofits.
In the bulk carrier and tanker segments, rotor sails dominate (54%), while wing sails are predominant (67%) on general cargo vessels. Overall, rotor sails make up nearly 50% of the current wind-assist market in the shipping fleet.
