On April 2–3, 2025, we officially launched the Wind4Shipping (W4S) project with an inspiring internal kickoff event in Harlingen, the Netherlands—marking the beginning of an exciting journey toward greener maritime transport in Northwest Europe.
A Historic Start
Our kickoff began in the beautiful Raadzaal of Harlingen’s historic municipality building, a 300-year-old venue full of character and symbolism. It provided the perfect setting for team-building, shared insights, and collective alignment on our mission to scale up wind-assisted propulsion technologies.
Setting the Course
The event was opened by our Project Leader, Richt Sterk, who set an energizing tone for the collaboration ahead. This was followed by a general project overview by Robbert van Hasselt, and a financial presentation from Pieter Poppen, who guided us through the Interreg North-West Europe (NWE) program manual.
Each Work Package Leader then introduced their plans, laying the groundwork for the upcoming phases of the project. The exchange of knowledge and ideas sparked valuable discussions and helped clarify our shared vision.
United for Sustainable Shipping
With 12 dedicated partners from Belgium, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, the W4S consortium is ready to tackle the challenge of reducing maritime emissions through innovative wind propulsion solutions. Our collective commitment and expertise create a solid foundation to deliver real impact in the North-West Europe region.
Our partners:
🔹 Provincie Fryslân
🔹 Boomsma Shipping BV
🔹 Bijlsma Marine Services
🔹 Econowind
🔹 NHL Stenden
🔹 Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore
🔹 FARWIND ENERGY
🔹 Bretagne Développement Innovation
🔹 University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer
🔹 Lauterjung Management GmbH
🔹 Faculty of Sciences – Ghent University
🔹 Bureau Veritas Solutions Marine & Offshore
Together, we’re not just imagining a sustainable maritime future—we’re building it.
Stay tuned for more updates as we set sail toward innovation and cleaner shipping!
