Anemoi Marine Technologies Ltd. (“Anemoi”) is making waves in the maritime decarbonization space, and its recent recognition during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to China underscores its growing influence. The company, which develops and delivers Rotor Sails—modern mechanical sails that harness wind power to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions—is being showcased as an exemplar of British excellence in maritime sustainability.
Anemoi’s increasing profile in China is further bolstered by the attendance of its newly appointed Programme Director, Andrew Starforth, at key events such as the ‘House of UK Reception’ and the UK-China business forum. This reflects Anemoi’s accelerating international growth and its commitment to building long-term partnerships in one of the world’s most strategically important maritime markets.
Since June 2023, Anemoi has secured £28 million in exports, representing the installation of 29 Rotor Sails across seven vessels, including four of the largest ships in the world. These vessels, which transport iron ore between Brazil and China, operate on some of the most demanding long-distance trade routes, demonstrating the global relevance, robustness, and scalability of Anemoi’s technology in supporting the decarbonization of international shipping.
All of Anemoi’s engineering design and R&D is conducted in the UK, with multiple Anemoi Test Facilities, including two in the North of England. These facilities are supported in part by funding from the UK Government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition. Since bringing Rotor Sails to market in 2020, Anemoi has increased its UK-based workforce nearly tenfold, creating more than 45 new jobs across the country. The company also actively supports STEM development through graduate programs and collaborates extensively with other UK-based companies and consultancies to drive the continuous improvement of its Rotor Sail technology and market rollout, contributing more than £9 million to the UK economy over the past decade.
Being highlighted by the UK Prime Minister represents a major milestone for Anemoi. This recognition underlines Anemoi’s role not only in supporting the UK’s clean maritime and decarbonisation ambitions but also in helping to accelerate the transition of the global shipping industry towards renewable-powered, low-carbon operations.
Commenting on this recognition, Clare Urmston, CEO of Anemoi, said: “Our focus has always been on delivering real, measurable decarbonisation for the shipping industry. Rotor Sails offer immediate reductions in fuel use and emissions. To date, we’re proud to share that our technology has harnessed the renewable power of wind to save over 91,000 tonnes of CO2, and counting. This recognition highlights the increasing relevance of UK-developed clean maritime technology in global shipping. Our model of UK-led innovation, combined with China’s maritime manufacturing expertise, allows us to scale reliably and support shipowners globally in reducing their environmental impact.”
This news shapes the development in the sector by showcasing a successful collaboration between British innovation and Chinese manufacturing expertise, setting a precedent for future partnerships aimed at decarbonizing the maritime industry. Anemoi’s achievements highlight the potential of wind-powered solutions in reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, paving the way for broader adoption of similar technologies in the global shipping industry.