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SkySails GmbH & Co. KG, the innovative wind propulsion system for ships, has announced that it is joining forces with Zeppelin Power Systems GmbH & Co. KG, Hamburg, a subsidiary of the Zeppelin Group, to market SkySails propulsion systems.

Starting next year, the two Hamburg-based companies will combine their expertise to create Zeppelin SkySails Service-und Vertriebsges. mbH & Co. KG.

The two partners intend to set new worldwide standards through the joint marketing of diesel-wind hybrid power systems.

In a statement released today, SkySails said "Zeppelin Power Systems’ robust sales and service network will ensure that the SkySails-Systems are maintained and serviced quickly and reliably across the globe."

Zeppelin has been the partner of Caterpillar, the world’s largest independent manufacturer of diesel engines, for over 50 years and is one of the leading sales and service organizations for marine engines.

Ernst Susanek, the President and CEO of Zeppelin GmbH commented: “Rising fuel costs and climate-change-related requirements and restrictions are forcing the shipping industry to change its way of thinking. The combination of cutting-edge diesel engine technologies from MaK and Caterpillar and the wind propulsion systems from SkySails will allow us to chart a new and much more promising course in our industry.

"This partnership not only fully accommodates the development of new market potential in the maritime industry, but also follows the future-minded tradition set forth by our company’s founder: the courage to try something new and to believe in its success,” said Susanek.

“We want our customers to be excited about the SkySails-System,” added SkySails Managing Director Stephan Wrage.

“This includes the kind of excellent service quality that we can guarantee our customers thanks to this collaboration with such an experienced partner as Zeppelin Power Systems.“

The partnership between Zeppelin and SkySails was initiated by the Oltmann Gruppe, which, as the exclusive financing partner of SkySails, arranged the bulk of the capital needed to establish the company.

Commenting on the alliance, Oltmann chief executive André Tonn said “The Oltmann Gruppe welcomes this partnership with Zeppelin and recognizes it as the ideal arrangement to enable SkySails to fully develop the market.”