Oceanbird, the wind propulsion technology joint venture between Alfa Laval and Wallenius, has appointed Amrit Kaur Bhullar as its new chief executive. She will take up the role on January 1 2026, as the company moves from early-stage development to full commercialisation. Bhullar, who grew up in London and has spent the last 15 years in Norway, is currently senior vice president for business development and group innovation at Norwegian shipbuilder Vard. She has a background in business development across major shipping suppliers and will now be tasked with scaling Oceanbird’s operations as demand for wind propulsion solutions picks up. The appointment follows a major milestone for the company: the demonstration of its first land-based wing sail, scheduled for August 25, 2025, in Landskrona, Sweden. The 40-metre-tall and 14-metre-wide rigid sail is being unveiled at Oceanbird’s new test site, where industry stakeholders can inspect the prototype up close. It is made of glass fibre composites and recycled PET. Altogether, the wing sail consists of 370,000 recycled plastic bottles. Oceanbird’s first installation at sea will follow soon after, on the Wallenius car carrier Tirranna in early 2026. “As Oceanbird enters the commercialisation phase, it will be key to deliver an effective prototype whilst at the same time scaling up to fulfil future demands,” Bhullar said in a statement. “The company is transitioning from a start-up to an established player. I will focus on learning from the talented team that built it and add a commercial perspective for growth.” Bhullar outlined her focus areas, including developing a scalable product portfolio, reducing costs through smarter production models, and maintaining a pipeline of aftermarket and upgrade solutions. She said wind propulsion’s flexibility across vessel types and compatibility with other low-emission solutions give Oceanbird a strong foundation for growth. “Partnerships have been central for Oceanbird from the very beginning and that will for sure continue,” she added. Oceanbird’s rigid wing sail concept uses air pressure to provide forward thrust, reducing fuel consumption. The company estimates a single sail on an existing vessel could save up to 10% in fuel and emissions on favourable routes. Erik Nøklebye, chairman of the Oceanbird board and CEO of Wallenius Lines, welcomed the appointment: “Amrit’s leadership background and maritime experience aligns well with the vision of Oceanbird and its people. We look forward to the strategic journey that will make us a leader in this groundbreaking industry.” Oceanbird’s current interim CEO, Magnus MackAldener, who also serves as head of research and development, took over following the departure of Niclas Dahl earlier this year. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsSweden