Bound4blue has fitted four 24-metre “plug-and-play” eSAIL units on board the Maersk Trieste. It marks the first stage of an agreement with Maersk Tankers that will see a total of twenty units installed across five advanced medium-range (MR) tankers.
The contract, agreed in December 2024, is Bound4blue’s largest order to date. Bound4blue CEO and co-founder José Miguel Bermúdez heralded the development as ‘a watershed moment’ in the further acceptance and adoption of wind power for an industry in transition.
Also read: Bound4blue lands major Maersk wind retrofit deal
Autonomous eSAILs
Bound4blue’s autonomous eSAILs work by drawing air across an aerodynamically optimised surface to generate lift up to seven times greater than conventional rigid sails of a comparable size.
With configurations tailored for individual vessels, eSAILs can deliver double-digit percentage reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, while significantly improving a vessel’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) rating. The systems also unlock regulatory and cost benefits under frameworks such as FuelEU Maritime, via the Wind Reward Factor, and EEDI/EEXI.
Also read: Amasus orders Bound4blue eSAILs for second vessel
Plug-and-play installation
The mechanical simplicity of the design supports straightforward integration into conventional shipyard workflows, helping to minimise downtime during retrofit projects. Bound4blue, Maersk Tankers and system integrator Njord chose a two-step installation process for the Maersk Trieste, maximising efficiency while minimising vessel downtime.
Following preparatory “wind ready” work carried out at Yiu Lian Shipyard in Shenzhen, China – including the installation of deck pedestals and electrical modifications – the vessels arrived at EDR Shipyard in Belgium. Here, the units were lifted on board, secured to the pre-installed foundations, and connected to onboard power and data networks in a pre-commissioned plug-and-play process.
Also read: Bound4blue installs largest eSAILs to date on juice carrier
Tailored for tankers
‘Our system was designed from day one to deliver maximum performance with minimum complexity,’ comments Bermúdez, ‘and that’s especially important for scaling up installations within segments that present specific integration challenges, such as tankers.’
Bermúdez: ‘The size and efficiency of eSAILs enable tankers to benefit from wind propulsion safely and cost-effectively, without altering operational profiles – avoiding tilting systems and retaining a normal operational air draught, and all with the simplicity of a non-ATEX solution.’
Also read: VIDEO: Odfjell retrofits tanker with Bound4blue eSAILs
Reducing emissions while supporting compliance
Commenting on the development, Claus Grønborg, Chief Investment Officer, Maersk Tankers, says: ‘At Maersk Tankers, we focus on deploying advanced energy-efficient technologies to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Implementing wind-assisted propulsion systems at scale enables more energy-efficient voyages for our customers, while supporting compliance with FuelEU Maritime and the EU Emissions Trading System.’
Bound4blue’s DNV type approved technology is designed for simplicity and ease of integration on both newbuild and retrofit projects, across a wide range of ship types (including tankers, bulk carriers, Ro-Ros, cruise vessels, ferries, and gas carriers, amongst others). The Maersk Tankers project follows a series of other eSAIL contracts and installations with shipowners such as Louis Dreyfus Company, Eastern Pacific Shipping, Odfjell, Klaveness Combination Carriers, and BW Epic Kosan.
Picture: Bound4blue’s installation of eSAILs on board the Maersk Trieste marks ‘a watershed moment’ in wind power adoption (photo by Bound4blue).
