"Wind for Goods 2027" Announced at the SMM Trade Show in Hamburg
Wind power is regaining its place in the maritime transport transition. At SMM 2026 in Hamburg—the world’s leading maritime trade show—Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement announced the return of Wind for Goods on June 16 and 17, 2027, in Saint-Nazaire. Organized by Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement, in collaboration with Wind Ship and the International Windship Association (IWSA), the event will bring together the international wind-powered shipping community for its 4th edition.
This announcement, made as part of the SMM and its theme “Driving the Maritime Transition,” comes at a time when the industry is experiencing accelerated growth both in France and internationally. Sail propulsion is now one of the decarbonization solutions that the maritime sector can deploy immediately. Maritime transport accounts for approximately 3% of global CO₂ emissions and, under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
An Industry That’s Scaling Up
The figures reflect the momentum of wind propulsion. In France, 18 ships equipped with sail propulsion systems will already be in operation by 2026, while 14 more have been ordered. The country also has three industrial sites dedicated to the manufacture and assembly of these systems.
Globally, the number of equipped vessels has surpassed 100, for a total of 230 installed systems and a cumulative carrying capacity of 5.5 million metric tons deadweight. The order book also includes 120 additional vessels.
“Sail propulsion has moved from the demonstration phase to the deployment phase,” notes Gavin Allwright, secretary general of the International Windship Association. For the industry, the challenge now is to determine how quickly these technologies can scale up. This is precisely the process that Wind for Goods aims to support.
Nantes Saint-Nazaire, a hub for innovation in sailing
For two days, Wind for Goods will once again transform Saint-Nazaire into an international hub for discussions on wind-powered maritime transport. Sea trials, ship demonstrations, exhibitions of prototypes and sails, conferences, roundtables, and B2B meetings will allow industry professionals to discover the solutions developed by this rapidly growing sector.
This momentum is also fueled by the regional ecosystem. The Nantes Saint-Nazaire region is home to a significant portion of the jobs and projects related to maritime decarbonization in France. Institutional stakeholders in the region have supported Wind for Goods since its inception, alongside local stakeholders committed to developing innovative solutions.
“With this 4th edition, Wind for Goods reaffirms its position as the world’s leading event for wind-assisted maritime transport. In the face of today’s social and environmental challenges, the Nantes Saint-Nazaire region has everything it needs to shape the maritime industry of tomorrow—an industry focused on decarbonization and job creation,” ,” emphasizes Johanna Rolland, Mayor of Nantes, President of Nantes Métropole, and President of Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement.
An event that embodies the ambition of Nantes Saint-Nazaire
With the announcement of this new edition at the SMM in Hamburg, Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement is positioning Wind for Goods within an international context and affirming the region’s ability to play a role in the major transformations taking place in the maritime industry.
After six years of development and having brought together more than 750 companies from over 30 countries at its most recent edition, Wind for Goods intends to continue this upward trajectory in 2027. This presents another opportunity to make Saint-Nazaire the meeting place for the stakeholders who are envisioning and building the future of maritime transport.
- Learn more about Wind for Goods 2027
