{"id":31052,"date":"2026-08-25T16:00:29","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T07:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tsuneishi-g.jp\/?post_type=news&#038;p=31052"},"modified":"2026-08-25T09:03:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T00:03:58","slug":"topic-tsuneishi-shipbuilding-and-oceanwings-complete-rigid-tiltable-wingsail-retrofit-aboard-the-bulk-carrier-maria-topic","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.tsuneishi-g.jp\/english\/news\/press\/2026\/08\/31052\/","title":{"rendered":"Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings complete rigid tiltable wingsail retrofit aboard the bulk carrier MARIA TOPIC"},"template":"","industry":[1129],"news-format":[1133],"news-tag":[],"enterprise":[208],"news-cat":[1247],"class_list":["post-31052","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","industry-shipbuilding","news-format-press","enterprise-tshipbuilding","news-cat-corporate-trends"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 5.0.4 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings today announced the successful completion of OceanWings rigid wingsail installation aboard the Ultramax bulk carrier MARIA TOPIC. Retrofitted at TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING in Japan, the vessel now returns to commercial service, marking a major milestone in OceanWings\u2019 commercial deployment and in the adoption of wind-assisted propulsion for merchant shipping. The successful retrofit demonstrates that rigid wingsail technology can be successfully integrated into an operating merchant vessel. By upgrading an existing bulk carrier, the project highlights the role retrofit solutions can play in reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions across today\u2019s fleet. This project demonstrates the production, delivery, and installation capabilities of the project partners for deploying Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion (WASP) solutions to the dry bulk market. The successful retrofit of MARIA TOPIC also reflects the shared commitment of Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings in accelerating the decarbonization of commercial shipping. Alex Albertini, CEO, Topic \u201cMARIA TOPIC follows Paolo Topic in our journey towards more sustainable shipping. By adding wind-assisted propulsion to an existing bulk carrier, we are continuing to invest in practical technologies that reduce fuel consumption and emissions across our fleet. OceanWings and TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING demonstrated a strong understanding of our operational requirements, allowing the retrofit to be completed within the dry dock period.\u201d NAKAI Toshifumi, Managing Executive Officer, Chief Ship Repair Officer, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING \u201cWe are proud to have completed this landmark retrofit alongside OceanWings and Topic. The project demonstrates that wind-assisted propulsion can be efficiently integrated into an existing vessel using TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING\u2019s ship repair and retrofit expertise, helping accelerate the transition towards more energy-efficient shipping. We are committed to contributing to the industry\u2019s decarbonization by leveraging our ship repair and retrofit expertise to bring innovative technologies into practical service.\u201d Emmanuel Schalit, CEO, OceanWings \u201cMARIA TOPIC is the latest proof that our technology is delivering where it matters most: in commercial operation. We designed OceanWings to be simple, robust and adapted to the realities of bulk shipping. This project marks an important industrial milestone for OceanWings, demonstrating our ability to manufacture, deliver and deploy our technology at commercial scale.\u201d OceanWings and Topic will share their first operational insights during SMM Hamburg in September 2026, providing an initial look at the vessel\u2019s behaviour in commercial service. The retrofit of MARIA TOPIC was carried out with the support of the European WHISPER (Wind Energy Harvesting for Ship Propulsion Assistance and Power) project, funded by the European Union\u2019s Horizon Europe programme. WHISPER brings together 13 partners from six European countries to develop and validate modular retrofit solutions combining wind-assisted propulsion and renewable onboard energy systems, accelerating the decarbonization of commercial shipping. The project has received funding from the European Union\u2019s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under Grant Agreement N\u00b0101096577. Lloyd\u2019s Register is funded by UK Research and Innovation under project agreement number 10065742. Contact OceanWings: Joanna Trouchaud \u2013 Communication manager TEL: +33 6 07 58 20 43 Email: Joanna.trouchaud@oceanwings.com Topic: Alessandro Mercante, Manager, Ant. Topic s.r.l., Email: a.mercante@ant.topic.it TSUNEISHI GROUP CORPORATION: Corporate Communications Dept. Email: pr@tsuneishi.com\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"max-image-preview:large\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"msvalidate.01\" content=\"C4AC19CFEA3F8366613E96D21044E7BB\" \/>\n\t<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tsuneishi-g.jp\/english\/news\/press\/2026\/08\/31052\/\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"generator\" content=\"All in One SEO (AIOSEO) 5.0.4\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Tsuneishi Group\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings complete rigid tiltable wingsail retrofit aboard the bulk carrier MARIA TOPIC | Tsuneishi Group\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings today announced the successful completion of OceanWings rigid wingsail installation aboard the Ultramax bulk carrier MARIA TOPIC. Retrofitted at TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING in Japan, the vessel now returns to commercial service, marking a major milestone in OceanWings\u2019 commercial deployment and in the adoption of wind-assisted propulsion for merchant shipping. The successful retrofit demonstrates that rigid wingsail technology can be successfully integrated into an operating merchant vessel. By upgrading an existing bulk carrier, the project highlights the role retrofit solutions can play in reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions across today\u2019s fleet. This project demonstrates the production, delivery, and installation capabilities of the project partners for deploying Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion (WASP) solutions to the dry bulk market. The successful retrofit of MARIA TOPIC also reflects the shared commitment of Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings in accelerating the decarbonization of commercial shipping. Alex Albertini, CEO, Topic \u201cMARIA TOPIC follows Paolo Topic in our journey towards more sustainable shipping. By adding wind-assisted propulsion to an existing bulk carrier, we are continuing to invest in practical technologies that reduce fuel consumption and emissions across our fleet. OceanWings and TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING demonstrated a strong understanding of our operational requirements, allowing the retrofit to be completed within the dry dock period.\u201d NAKAI Toshifumi, Managing Executive Officer, Chief Ship Repair Officer, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING \u201cWe are proud to have completed this landmark retrofit alongside OceanWings and Topic. The project demonstrates that wind-assisted propulsion can be efficiently integrated into an existing vessel using TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING\u2019s ship repair and retrofit expertise, helping accelerate the transition towards more energy-efficient shipping. We are committed to contributing to the industry\u2019s decarbonization by leveraging our ship repair and retrofit expertise to bring innovative technologies into practical service.\u201d Emmanuel Schalit, CEO, OceanWings \u201cMARIA TOPIC is the latest proof that our technology is delivering where it matters most: in commercial operation. We designed OceanWings to be simple, robust and adapted to the realities of bulk shipping. This project marks an important industrial milestone for OceanWings, demonstrating our ability to manufacture, deliver and deploy our technology at commercial scale.\u201d OceanWings and Topic will share their first operational insights during SMM Hamburg in September 2026, providing an initial look at the vessel\u2019s behaviour in commercial service. The retrofit of MARIA TOPIC was carried out with the support of the European WHISPER (Wind Energy Harvesting for Ship Propulsion Assistance and Power) project, funded by the European Union\u2019s Horizon Europe programme. WHISPER brings together 13 partners from six European countries to develop and validate modular retrofit solutions combining wind-assisted propulsion and renewable onboard energy systems, accelerating the decarbonization of commercial shipping. The project has received funding from the European Union\u2019s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under Grant Agreement N\u00b0101096577. Lloyd\u2019s Register is funded by UK Research and Innovation under project agreement number 10065742. Contact OceanWings: Joanna Trouchaud \u2013 Communication manager TEL: +33 6 07 58 20 43 Email: Joanna.trouchaud@oceanwings.com Topic: Alessandro Mercante, Manager, Ant. Topic s.r.l., Email: a.mercante@ant.topic.it TSUNEISHI GROUP CORPORATION: Corporate Communications Dept. Email: pr@tsuneishi.com\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.tsuneishi-g.jp\/english\/news\/press\/2026\/08\/31052\/\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.tsuneishi-g.jp\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_9440.png\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:image:secure_url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.tsuneishi-g.jp\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_9440.png\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-08-25T07:00:29+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-25T00:03:58+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings complete rigid tiltable wingsail retrofit aboard the bulk carrier MARIA TOPIC | Tsuneishi Group\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings today announced the successful completion of OceanWings rigid wingsail installation aboard the Ultramax bulk carrier MARIA TOPIC. Retrofitted at TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING in Japan, the vessel now returns to commercial service, marking a major milestone in OceanWings\u2019 commercial deployment and in the adoption of wind-assisted propulsion for merchant shipping. The successful retrofit demonstrates that rigid wingsail technology can be successfully integrated into an operating merchant vessel. By upgrading an existing bulk carrier, the project highlights the role retrofit solutions can play in reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions across today\u2019s fleet. This project demonstrates the production, delivery, and installation capabilities of the project partners for deploying Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion (WASP) solutions to the dry bulk market. The successful retrofit of MARIA TOPIC also reflects the shared commitment of Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings in accelerating the decarbonization of commercial shipping. Alex Albertini, CEO, Topic \u201cMARIA TOPIC follows Paolo Topic in our journey towards more sustainable shipping. By adding wind-assisted propulsion to an existing bulk carrier, we are continuing to invest in practical technologies that reduce fuel consumption and emissions across our fleet. OceanWings and TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING demonstrated a strong understanding of our operational requirements, allowing the retrofit to be completed within the dry dock period.\u201d NAKAI Toshifumi, Managing Executive Officer, Chief Ship Repair Officer, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING \u201cWe are proud to have completed this landmark retrofit alongside OceanWings and Topic. The project demonstrates that wind-assisted propulsion can be efficiently integrated into an existing vessel using TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING\u2019s ship repair and retrofit expertise, helping accelerate the transition towards more energy-efficient shipping. We are committed to contributing to the industry\u2019s decarbonization by leveraging our ship repair and retrofit expertise to bring innovative technologies into practical service.\u201d Emmanuel Schalit, CEO, OceanWings \u201cMARIA TOPIC is the latest proof that our technology is delivering where it matters most: in commercial operation. We designed OceanWings to be simple, robust and adapted to the realities of bulk shipping. This project marks an important industrial milestone for OceanWings, demonstrating our ability to manufacture, deliver and deploy our technology at commercial scale.\u201d OceanWings and Topic will share their first operational insights during SMM Hamburg in September 2026, providing an initial look at the vessel\u2019s behaviour in commercial service. The retrofit of MARIA TOPIC was carried out with the support of the European WHISPER (Wind Energy Harvesting for Ship Propulsion Assistance and Power) project, funded by the European Union\u2019s Horizon Europe programme. WHISPER brings together 13 partners from six European countries to develop and validate modular retrofit solutions combining wind-assisted propulsion and renewable onboard energy systems, accelerating the decarbonization of commercial shipping. The project has received funding from the European Union\u2019s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under Grant Agreement N\u00b0101096577. Lloyd\u2019s Register is funded by UK Research and Innovation under project agreement number 10065742. Contact OceanWings: Joanna Trouchaud \u2013 Communication manager TEL: +33 6 07 58 20 43 Email: Joanna.trouchaud@oceanwings.com Topic: Alessandro Mercante, Manager, Ant. Topic s.r.l., Email: a.mercante@ant.topic.it TSUNEISHI GROUP CORPORATION: Corporate Communications Dept. 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Retrofitted at TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING in Japan, the vessel now returns to commercial service, marking a major milestone in OceanWings\\u2019 commercial deployment and in the adoption of wind-assisted propulsion for merchant shipping. The successful retrofit demonstrates that rigid wingsail technology can be successfully integrated into an operating merchant vessel. By upgrading an existing bulk carrier, the project highlights the role retrofit solutions can play in reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions across today\\u2019s fleet. This project demonstrates the production, delivery, and installation capabilities of the project partners for deploying Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion (WASP) solutions to the dry bulk market. The successful retrofit of MARIA TOPIC also reflects the shared commitment of Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings in accelerating the decarbonization of commercial shipping. Alex Albertini, CEO, Topic \\u201cMARIA TOPIC follows Paolo Topic in our journey towards more sustainable shipping. By adding wind-assisted propulsion to an existing bulk carrier, we are continuing to invest in practical technologies that reduce fuel consumption and emissions across our fleet. OceanWings and TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING demonstrated a strong understanding of our operational requirements, allowing the retrofit to be completed within the dry dock period.\\u201d NAKAI Toshifumi, Managing Executive Officer, Chief Ship Repair Officer, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING \\u201cWe are proud to have completed this landmark retrofit alongside OceanWings and Topic. The project demonstrates that wind-assisted propulsion can be efficiently integrated into an existing vessel using TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING\\u2019s ship repair and retrofit expertise, helping accelerate the transition towards more energy-efficient shipping. We are committed to contributing to the industry\\u2019s decarbonization by leveraging our ship repair and retrofit expertise to bring innovative technologies into practical service.\\u201d Emmanuel Schalit, CEO, OceanWings \\u201cMARIA TOPIC is the latest proof that our technology is delivering where it matters most: in commercial operation. We designed OceanWings to be simple, robust and adapted to the realities of bulk shipping. This project marks an important industrial milestone for OceanWings, demonstrating our ability to manufacture, deliver and deploy our technology at commercial scale.\\u201d OceanWings and Topic will share their first operational insights during SMM Hamburg in September 2026, providing an initial look at the vessel\\u2019s behaviour in commercial service. The retrofit of MARIA TOPIC was carried out with the support of the European WHISPER (Wind Energy Harvesting for Ship Propulsion Assistance and Power) project, funded by the European Union\\u2019s Horizon Europe programme. WHISPER brings together 13 partners from six European countries to develop and validate modular retrofit solutions combining wind-assisted propulsion and renewable onboard energy systems, accelerating the decarbonization of commercial shipping. The project has received funding from the European Union\\u2019s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under Grant Agreement N\\u00b0101096577. Lloyd\\u2019s Register is funded by UK Research and Innovation under project agreement number 10065742. Contact OceanWings: Joanna Trouchaud \\u2013 Communication manager TEL: +33 6 07 58 20 43 Email: Joanna.trouchaud@oceanwings.com Topic: Alessandro Mercante, Manager, Ant. 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The successful retrofit demonstrates that rigid wingsail technology can be successfully integrated into an operating merchant vessel. By upgrading an existing bulk carrier, the project highlights the role retrofit solutions can play in reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions across today\u2019s fleet. This project demonstrates the production, delivery, and installation capabilities of the project partners for deploying Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion (WASP) solutions to the dry bulk market. The successful retrofit of MARIA TOPIC also reflects the shared commitment of Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings in accelerating the decarbonization of commercial shipping. Alex Albertini, CEO, Topic \u201cMARIA TOPIC follows Paolo Topic in our journey towards more sustainable shipping. By adding wind-assisted propulsion to an existing bulk carrier, we are continuing to invest in practical technologies that reduce fuel consumption and emissions across our fleet. OceanWings and TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING demonstrated a strong understanding of our operational requirements, allowing the retrofit to be completed within the dry dock period.\u201d NAKAI Toshifumi, Managing Executive Officer, Chief Ship Repair Officer, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING \u201cWe are proud to have completed this landmark retrofit alongside OceanWings and Topic. The project demonstrates that wind-assisted propulsion can be efficiently integrated into an existing vessel using TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING\u2019s ship repair and retrofit expertise, helping accelerate the transition towards more energy-efficient shipping. We are committed to contributing to the industry\u2019s decarbonization by leveraging our ship repair and retrofit expertise to bring innovative technologies into practical service.\u201d Emmanuel Schalit, CEO, OceanWings \u201cMARIA TOPIC is the latest proof that our technology is delivering where it matters most: in commercial operation. We designed OceanWings to be simple, robust and adapted to the realities of bulk shipping. This project marks an important industrial milestone for OceanWings, demonstrating our ability to manufacture, deliver and deploy our technology at commercial scale.\u201d OceanWings and Topic will share their first operational insights during SMM Hamburg in September 2026, providing an initial look at the vessel\u2019s behaviour in commercial service. The retrofit of MARIA TOPIC was carried out with the support of the European WHISPER (Wind Energy Harvesting for Ship Propulsion Assistance and Power) project, funded by the European Union\u2019s Horizon Europe programme. WHISPER brings together 13 partners from six European countries to develop and validate modular retrofit solutions combining wind-assisted propulsion and renewable onboard energy systems, accelerating the decarbonization of commercial shipping. The project has received funding from the European Union\u2019s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under Grant Agreement N\u00b0101096577. Lloyd\u2019s Register is funded by UK Research and Innovation under project agreement number 10065742. Contact OceanWings: Joanna Trouchaud \u2013 Communication manager TEL: +33 6 07 58 20 43 Email: Joanna.trouchaud@oceanwings.com Topic: Alessandro Mercante, Manager, Ant. Topic s.r.l., Email: a.mercante@ant.topic.it TSUNEISHI GROUP CORPORATION: Corporate Communications Dept. 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A corporate group headquartered in Hiroshima that develops shipbuilding, shipping, environment, energy, life & resort businesses.","url":"https:\/\/www.tsuneishi-g.jp\/english\/"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.tsuneishi-g.jp\/english\/news\/press\/2026\/08\/31052\/#webpage","url":"https:\/\/www.tsuneishi-g.jp\/english\/news\/press\/2026\/08\/31052\/","name":"Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings complete rigid tiltable wingsail retrofit aboard the bulk carrier MARIA TOPIC | Tsuneishi Group","description":"Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings today announced the successful completion of OceanWings rigid wingsail installation aboard the Ultramax bulk carrier MARIA TOPIC. Retrofitted at TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING in Japan, the vessel now returns to commercial service, marking a major milestone in OceanWings\u2019 commercial deployment and in the adoption of wind-assisted propulsion for merchant shipping. The successful retrofit demonstrates that rigid wingsail technology can be successfully integrated into an operating merchant vessel. By upgrading an existing bulk carrier, the project highlights the role retrofit solutions can play in reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions across today\u2019s fleet. This project demonstrates the production, delivery, and installation capabilities of the project partners for deploying Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion (WASP) solutions to the dry bulk market. The successful retrofit of MARIA TOPIC also reflects the shared commitment of Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings in accelerating the decarbonization of commercial shipping. Alex Albertini, CEO, Topic \u201cMARIA TOPIC follows Paolo Topic in our journey towards more sustainable shipping. By adding wind-assisted propulsion to an existing bulk carrier, we are continuing to invest in practical technologies that reduce fuel consumption and emissions across our fleet. OceanWings and TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING demonstrated a strong understanding of our operational requirements, allowing the retrofit to be completed within the dry dock period.\u201d NAKAI Toshifumi, Managing Executive Officer, Chief Ship Repair Officer, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING \u201cWe are proud to have completed this landmark retrofit alongside OceanWings and Topic. The project demonstrates that wind-assisted propulsion can be efficiently integrated into an existing vessel using TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING\u2019s ship repair and retrofit expertise, helping accelerate the transition towards more energy-efficient shipping. We are committed to contributing to the industry\u2019s decarbonization by leveraging our ship repair and retrofit expertise to bring innovative technologies into practical service.\u201d Emmanuel Schalit, CEO, OceanWings \u201cMARIA TOPIC is the latest proof that our technology is delivering where it matters most: in commercial operation. We designed OceanWings to be simple, robust and adapted to the realities of bulk shipping. This project marks an important industrial milestone for OceanWings, demonstrating our ability to manufacture, deliver and deploy our technology at commercial scale.\u201d OceanWings and Topic will share their first operational insights during SMM Hamburg in September 2026, providing an initial look at the vessel\u2019s behaviour in commercial service. The retrofit of MARIA TOPIC was carried out with the support of the European WHISPER (Wind Energy Harvesting for Ship Propulsion Assistance and Power) project, funded by the European Union\u2019s Horizon Europe programme. WHISPER brings together 13 partners from six European countries to develop and validate modular retrofit solutions combining wind-assisted propulsion and renewable onboard energy systems, accelerating the decarbonization of commercial shipping. The project has received funding from the European Union\u2019s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under Grant Agreement N\u00b0101096577. Lloyd\u2019s Register is funded by UK Research and Innovation under project agreement number 10065742. Contact OceanWings: Joanna Trouchaud \u2013 Communication manager TEL: +33 6 07 58 20 43 Email: Joanna.trouchaud@oceanwings.com Topic: Alessandro Mercante, Manager, Ant. Topic s.r.l., Email: a.mercante@ant.topic.it TSUNEISHI GROUP CORPORATION: Corporate Communications Dept. Email: pr@tsuneishi.com","inLanguage":"en-US","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.tsuneishi-g.jp\/english\/#website"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.tsuneishi-g.jp\/english\/news\/press\/2026\/08\/31052\/#breadcrumblist"},"datePublished":"2026-08-25T16:00:29+09:00","dateModified":"2026-08-25T09:03:58+09:00"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.tsuneishi-g.jp\/english\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.tsuneishi-g.jp\/english\/","name":"Tsuneishi Group","description":"This is the TSUNEISHI Group portal site. A corporate group headquartered in Hiroshima that develops shipbuilding, shipping, environment, energy, life & resort businesses.","inLanguage":"en-US","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.tsuneishi-g.jp\/english\/#organization"}}]},"og:locale":"en_US","og:site_name":"Tsuneishi Group","og:type":"article","og:title":"Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings complete rigid tiltable wingsail retrofit aboard the bulk carrier MARIA TOPIC | Tsuneishi Group","og:description":"Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings today announced the successful completion of OceanWings rigid wingsail installation aboard the Ultramax bulk carrier MARIA TOPIC. Retrofitted at TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING in Japan, the vessel now returns to commercial service, marking a major milestone in OceanWings\u2019 commercial deployment and in the adoption of wind-assisted propulsion for merchant shipping. The successful retrofit demonstrates that rigid wingsail technology can be successfully integrated into an operating merchant vessel. By upgrading an existing bulk carrier, the project highlights the role retrofit solutions can play in reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions across today\u2019s fleet. This project demonstrates the production, delivery, and installation capabilities of the project partners for deploying Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion (WASP) solutions to the dry bulk market. The successful retrofit of MARIA TOPIC also reflects the shared commitment of Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings in accelerating the decarbonization of commercial shipping. Alex Albertini, CEO, Topic \u201cMARIA TOPIC follows Paolo Topic in our journey towards more sustainable shipping. By adding wind-assisted propulsion to an existing bulk carrier, we are continuing to invest in practical technologies that reduce fuel consumption and emissions across our fleet. OceanWings and TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING demonstrated a strong understanding of our operational requirements, allowing the retrofit to be completed within the dry dock period.\u201d NAKAI Toshifumi, Managing Executive Officer, Chief Ship Repair Officer, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING \u201cWe are proud to have completed this landmark retrofit alongside OceanWings and Topic. The project demonstrates that wind-assisted propulsion can be efficiently integrated into an existing vessel using TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING\u2019s ship repair and retrofit expertise, helping accelerate the transition towards more energy-efficient shipping. We are committed to contributing to the industry\u2019s decarbonization by leveraging our ship repair and retrofit expertise to bring innovative technologies into practical service.\u201d Emmanuel Schalit, CEO, OceanWings \u201cMARIA TOPIC is the latest proof that our technology is delivering where it matters most: in commercial operation. We designed OceanWings to be simple, robust and adapted to the realities of bulk shipping. This project marks an important industrial milestone for OceanWings, demonstrating our ability to manufacture, deliver and deploy our technology at commercial scale.\u201d OceanWings and Topic will share their first operational insights during SMM Hamburg in September 2026, providing an initial look at the vessel\u2019s behaviour in commercial service. The retrofit of MARIA TOPIC was carried out with the support of the European WHISPER (Wind Energy Harvesting for Ship Propulsion Assistance and Power) project, funded by the European Union\u2019s Horizon Europe programme. WHISPER brings together 13 partners from six European countries to develop and validate modular retrofit solutions combining wind-assisted propulsion and renewable onboard energy systems, accelerating the decarbonization of commercial shipping. The project has received funding from the European Union\u2019s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under Grant Agreement N\u00b0101096577. Lloyd\u2019s Register is funded by UK Research and Innovation under project agreement number 10065742. Contact OceanWings: Joanna Trouchaud \u2013 Communication manager TEL: +33 6 07 58 20 43 Email: Joanna.trouchaud@oceanwings.com Topic: Alessandro Mercante, Manager, Ant. Topic s.r.l., Email: a.mercante@ant.topic.it TSUNEISHI GROUP CORPORATION: Corporate Communications Dept. Email: pr@tsuneishi.com","og:url":"https:\/\/www.tsuneishi-g.jp\/english\/news\/press\/2026\/08\/31052\/","og:image":"https:\/\/www.tsuneishi-g.jp\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_9440.png","og:image:secure_url":"https:\/\/www.tsuneishi-g.jp\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_9440.png","og:image:width":1200,"og:image:height":630,"article:published_time":"2026-08-25T07:00:29+00:00","article:modified_time":"2026-08-25T00:03:58+00:00","twitter:card":"summary","twitter:title":"Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings complete rigid tiltable wingsail retrofit aboard the bulk carrier MARIA TOPIC | Tsuneishi Group","twitter:description":"Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings today announced the successful completion of OceanWings rigid wingsail installation aboard the Ultramax bulk carrier MARIA TOPIC. Retrofitted at TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING in Japan, the vessel now returns to commercial service, marking a major milestone in OceanWings\u2019 commercial deployment and in the adoption of wind-assisted propulsion for merchant shipping. The successful retrofit demonstrates that rigid wingsail technology can be successfully integrated into an operating merchant vessel. By upgrading an existing bulk carrier, the project highlights the role retrofit solutions can play in reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions across today\u2019s fleet. This project demonstrates the production, delivery, and installation capabilities of the project partners for deploying Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion (WASP) solutions to the dry bulk market. The successful retrofit of MARIA TOPIC also reflects the shared commitment of Topic, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and OceanWings in accelerating the decarbonization of commercial shipping. Alex Albertini, CEO, Topic \u201cMARIA TOPIC follows Paolo Topic in our journey towards more sustainable shipping. By adding wind-assisted propulsion to an existing bulk carrier, we are continuing to invest in practical technologies that reduce fuel consumption and emissions across our fleet. OceanWings and TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING demonstrated a strong understanding of our operational requirements, allowing the retrofit to be completed within the dry dock period.\u201d NAKAI Toshifumi, Managing Executive Officer, Chief Ship Repair Officer, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING \u201cWe are proud to have completed this landmark retrofit alongside OceanWings and Topic. The project demonstrates that wind-assisted propulsion can be efficiently integrated into an existing vessel using TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING\u2019s ship repair and retrofit expertise, helping accelerate the transition towards more energy-efficient shipping. We are committed to contributing to the industry\u2019s decarbonization by leveraging our ship repair and retrofit expertise to bring innovative technologies into practical service.\u201d Emmanuel Schalit, CEO, OceanWings \u201cMARIA TOPIC is the latest proof that our technology is delivering where it matters most: in commercial operation. We designed OceanWings to be simple, robust and adapted to the realities of bulk shipping. This project marks an important industrial milestone for OceanWings, demonstrating our ability to manufacture, deliver and deploy our technology at commercial scale.\u201d OceanWings and Topic will share their first operational insights during SMM Hamburg in September 2026, providing an initial look at the vessel\u2019s behaviour in commercial service. The retrofit of MARIA TOPIC was carried out with the support of the European WHISPER (Wind Energy Harvesting for Ship Propulsion Assistance and Power) project, funded by the European Union\u2019s Horizon Europe programme. WHISPER brings together 13 partners from six European countries to develop and validate modular retrofit solutions combining wind-assisted propulsion and renewable onboard energy systems, accelerating the decarbonization of commercial shipping. The project has received funding from the European Union\u2019s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under Grant Agreement N\u00b0101096577. Lloyd\u2019s Register is funded by UK Research and Innovation under project agreement number 10065742. Contact OceanWings: Joanna Trouchaud \u2013 Communication manager TEL: +33 6 07 58 20 43 Email: Joanna.trouchaud@oceanwings.com Topic: Alessandro Mercante, Manager, Ant. Topic s.r.l., Email: a.mercante@ant.topic.it TSUNEISHI GROUP CORPORATION: Corporate Communications Dept. 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