Japanese cargo ships harness the wind to reduce emissions

TOKYO — The Japanese marine shipping industry is latching onto new takes on the wind-blown sail as a way to shrink its carbon footprint.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines unveiled Friday a bulk carrier with a 53-meter-tall “hard sail,” around the height of a 20-story apartment building. The sail converts wind energy into propulsive force, helping to decrease carbon dioxide emissions.