Autonomous cargo vessel Clippership 78, under construction by KM Yachtbuilders, is a 24-metre wind-powered ship featuring fully autonomous technology.
Efficient,
Low-Emission,
Fully autonomous shipping
Clippership 78 is an autonomous cargo vessel in the 24-metre class, designed for highly efficient, low-emission shipping. The 24-metre-class vessel is equipped with twin foldable rigid wings that provide primary wind propulsion, enabling highly efficient, low-emission operations. Designed for fully autonomous, open-ocean voyages with advanced weather-aware routing, the ship offers a cargo capacity of up to 75 Euro-pallets in a climate-controlled hold.
Built under RINA rules and supervised throughout construction, it will be classed as a “General Cargo Ship – Powered Sailing Ship” with the WAPS (Wind Assisted Propulsion System) and sail under the Maltese flag. Launch is planned for late 2026, with commercial operations to follow shortly thereafter on transatlantic, Caribbean, and South American pilot routes.
Dykstra Naval Architects leads naval architecture. Glosten provides structural and auxiliary
propulsion engineering. KM Yachtbuilders will build the vessel. Autonomy and wind-propulsion systems are designed in-house by Clippership.
