The Return of Sail Power: Cargo Ships Are Turning Back to the Wind

September 16, 2026 · gCaptain

URL: https://gcaptain.com/the-return-of-sail-power-cargo-ships-are-turning-back-to-the-wind/

“Wind, by comparison, is free.”

More than 100 large merchant ships now carry some form of sail. The showcase ore carrier cuts fuel use by 6%. That is a rounding error dressed up as a revolution. The IMO safety guidelines are not even due until later this decade.