Dutch shipyard to build 24-meter autonomous wind-powered vessel

Clippership, a U.S.-headquartered company developing autonomous wind-powered ships, has signed a construction contract for its first 24-meter class zero emission autonomous wind-powered cargo vessel with Dutch shipyard KM Yachtbuilders.

The vessel features twin, foldable rigid wings for primary wind propulsion, is designed for open-ocean autonomy, and has a cargo capacity of up to 75 Euro-pallets within its climate-controlled cargo hold.

Naval architecture was carried out by Dykstra Naval Architects, while Glosten, a Seattle-headquartered American naval architecture and marine engineering firm, completed the vessel’s structural engineering. Autonomy and wind-propulsion systems are designed in-house by Clippership.

The vessel will be built in accordance with RINA rules and supervised during construction to be classed as General Cargo Ship – Powered Sailing Ship with the wind-assisted propulsion system (WAPS) additional class notation.

Set to sail under the Maltese flag, its launch is scheduled for late 2026, with commercial operations commencing shortly afterwards on transatlantic, Caribbean, and South American pilot routes.

“Bringing together Dykstra Naval Architect’s expertise