Four 24-metre eSAIL® suction sails installed on Maersk Tahiti at Chengxi Shipyard in Jiangyin, China. Second vessel completed in bound4blue – Maersk Tankers collaboration, covering 20 sails across five MR tankers

Bound4blue has successfully concluded its second eSAIL installation for Maersk Tankers, with the implementation of four 24-metre suction sails on the MR tanker Maersk Tahiti (IMO 9726451, MMSI 563329200 - sailing under the flag of Singapore ) at Chengxi Shipyard in Jiangyin, China. The agreement covers 20 units across five medium-range tankers, and the work is part of this. The first retrofit in the series was completed in January aboard the Maersk Trieste. (IMO 9708617, MMSI 219179000 - sailing under the flag of Denmark.)

Proven advantages

“The agreement with Maersk Tankers reflects the wider scaling up of wind power adoption across the industry,” comments bound4blue CEO and co-founder José Miguel Bermúdez. “Wind, and particularly suction sail technology, delivers a massive advantage in both environmental and commercial contexts, and appreciation of this reality is blossoming.

“It marks an opportunity for us, of course, but more than that, it demonstrates a chance for forward-thinking owners to simplify an increasingly complex regulatory and operating environment with proven technology and a free – and freely available – power source.”

Maersk Tahiti’s four non-ATEX eSAIL® units

Maersk Tahiti’s four non-ATEX eSAIL® units offer completely autonomous operation, with simple installation and minimal maintenance. They operate by drawing air across an aerodynamically optimised surface to generate lift up to seven times greater than conventional rigid sails of the same size. Tailored to each vessel, the system reduces engine load, delivering compelling fuel and CO₂ savings while improving Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) ratings.

Wind-assisted propulsion systems ( WAPS )

Beyond operational gains, wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS) such as eSAILs® are actively rewarded under FuelEU Maritime, through the Wind Reward Factor, while contributing to EEDI/EEXI compliance and lowering exposure to EU ETS costs. A who’s who of shipping companies are embracing the technology, including names such as Louis Dreyfus Company, Eastern Pacific Shipping, Odfjell, Klaveness Combination Carriers, and BW Epic Kosan, amongst others.

Ready for scale

Designed for easy integration and seamless operations, bound4blue’s DNV Type Approved eSAIL® systems are suitable for both retrofit and newbuild projects, across a wide range of vessel segments.

Related : bound4blue lands US$44M from investors eyeing wind power

The completion of another installation at a major Asian yard demonstrates the Spanish-headquartered company’s growing global footprint. It follows bound4blue’s move to engage in a number of strategic partnerships to build up production, logistics, and service capacity in China last year.

“As this new delivery proves yet again, practical, scalable decarbonisation doesn’t have to be a pipe dream anymore; it can be a reality,” Bermúdez concludes. “We’d encourage other ambitious owners to investigate the potential of wind power, and especially suction sail technology, today.”

About bound4blue 

bound4blue develops automated wind propulsion systems as a turnkey solution for all shipowners and shipping companies seeking to reduce fuel costs and polluting emissions. bound4blue’s eSAIL® system is a validated solution for saving fuel and emissions, completely autonomous, with low maintenance and easy installation onboard, being the most cost-efficient wind propulsion technology today. It is suitable for Tankers, Bulkers, Ro-Ros, Cruise vessels, Ferries, Gas Carriers, and General Cargo vessels, regardless of their size or age. 

The company, founded in 2014 with a vocation clearly focused on the renewable energy sector in the maritime field, has its headquarters in Cantabria (Spain) and offices in Barcelona and Singapore. Since completing its first installation in 2021, the company has deployed its eSAIL® system on eleven ships, with seven more in its order book, representing more than 50 eSAILs®. Its growing client portfolio includes industry leaders such as Eastern Pacific Shipping, Maersk Tankers, Odfjell, Klaveness Combination Carriers, BW Epic Kosan, and Louis Dreyfus Company, among others.

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