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bound4blue completes first eSAIL installation under Maersk Tankers agreement
Four suction sails installed on Maersk Trieste, marking a major step toward scalable wind-assisted propulsion for tankers.
bound4blue.com
bound4blue's installation of eSAILs® on board the Maersk Trieste marks "a watershed moment" in wind power adoption.
bound4blue has completed the first installation under its landmark agreement with Maersk Tankers, fitting four 24-metre eSAIL® suction sails onboard the Maersk Trieste. The project represents the initial phase of a contract covering 20 eSAIL® units across five medium-range (MR) tanker vessels—bound4blue’s largest order to date.
The installation was finalised at EDR Shipyard in Belgium following preparatory “wind-ready” work at Yiu Lian Shipyard in Shenzhen, China. The two-stage approach minimised vessel downtime while demonstrating the system’s compatibility with conventional shipyard workflows.
Plug-and-play wind propulsion for tankers
bound4blue’s autonomous eSAIL® technology generates aerodynamic lift by drawing air across a curved, optimised surface, delivering up to seven times more lift than conventional rigid sails of comparable size. The system is designed for simplicity, safety, and performance—particularly critical for tanker operations.
Each installation is tailored to the vessel, enabling double-digit percentage reductions in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions, while improving Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) ratings. eSAIL® systems also unlock compliance and cost benefits under regulations such as FuelEU Maritime, EEDI/EEXI, and the EU ETS via the Wind Reward Factor.
A key advantage for tanker applications is the non-ATEX design, which avoids tilting mechanisms and maintains a standard operational air draft—allowing vessels to benefit from wind propulsion without altering established operating profiles.
From contract to commissioning
Following the installation of deck pedestals and electrical modifications in China, the Maersk Trieste arrived in Belgium for final integration. The suction sails were lifted onboard, secured to pre-installed foundations, and connected to onboard power and data networks in a pre-commissioned, plug-and-play process. The mechanical simplicity of the system supports rapid retrofit schedules, with full installations possible in under a day when required.
José Miguel Bermúdez, CEO and co-founder of bound4blue, described the project as a milestone for the sector:
“This installation demonstrates that wind propulsion is ready to deliver at scale, even for complex vessel types like tankers. The performance, simplicity, and safety of eSAIL® make it a practical decarbonisation solution that can be deployed without disrupting operations.”
Setting sail for sustainability: Maersk Trieste can now take advantage of double-digit percentage reductions in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions, while unlocking significant regulatory gains.
Scaling wind-assisted propulsion
For Maersk Tankers, the project reflects a focus on tangible emissions-reduction measures.
Claus Grønborg, Chief Investment Officer at Maersk Tankers, commented that deploying wind-assisted propulsion at scale enables more energy-efficient voyages while supporting compliance with tightening regulatory frameworks.
The Maersk Tankers installation builds on bound4blue’s growing portfolio of projects with shipowners including Louis Dreyfus Company, Eastern Pacific Shipping, Odfjell, Klaveness Combination Carriers, and BW Epic Kosan—underscoring the rapid shift of wind propulsion from niche innovation to mainstream decarbonisation strategy.
As regulatory pressure intensifies and fuel costs rise, projects such as this signal that wind-assisted propulsion is no longer experimental, but a commercially viable and scalable solution available today.
www.bound4blue.com
bound4blue has completed the first installation under its landmark agreement with Maersk Tankers, fitting four 24-metre eSAIL® suction sails onboard the Maersk Trieste. The project represents the initial phase of a contract covering 20 eSAIL® units across five medium-range (MR) tanker vessels—bound4blue’s largest order to date.
The installation was finalised at EDR Shipyard in Belgium following preparatory “wind-ready” work at Yiu Lian Shipyard in Shenzhen, China. The two-stage approach minimised vessel downtime while demonstrating the system’s compatibility with conventional shipyard workflows.
Plug-and-play wind propulsion for tankers
bound4blue’s autonomous eSAIL® technology generates aerodynamic lift by drawing air across a curved, optimised surface, delivering up to seven times more lift than conventional rigid sails of comparable size. The system is designed for simplicity, safety, and performance—particularly critical for tanker operations.
Each installation is tailored to the vessel, enabling double-digit percentage reductions in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions, while improving Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) ratings. eSAIL® systems also unlock compliance and cost benefits under regulations such as FuelEU Maritime, EEDI/EEXI, and the EU ETS via the Wind Reward Factor.
A key advantage for tanker applications is the non-ATEX design, which avoids tilting mechanisms and maintains a standard operational air draft—allowing vessels to benefit from wind propulsion without altering established operating profiles.
From contract to commissioning
Following the installation of deck pedestals and electrical modifications in China, the Maersk Trieste arrived in Belgium for final integration. The suction sails were lifted onboard, secured to pre-installed foundations, and connected to onboard power and data networks in a pre-commissioned, plug-and-play process. The mechanical simplicity of the system supports rapid retrofit schedules, with full installations possible in under a day when required.
José Miguel Bermúdez, CEO and co-founder of bound4blue, described the project as a milestone for the sector:
“This installation demonstrates that wind propulsion is ready to deliver at scale, even for complex vessel types like tankers. The performance, simplicity, and safety of eSAIL® make it a practical decarbonisation solution that can be deployed without disrupting operations.”
Setting sail for sustainability: Maersk Trieste can now take advantage of double-digit percentage reductions in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions, while unlocking significant regulatory gains.
Scaling wind-assisted propulsion
For Maersk Tankers, the project reflects a focus on tangible emissions-reduction measures.
Claus Grønborg, Chief Investment Officer at Maersk Tankers, commented that deploying wind-assisted propulsion at scale enables more energy-efficient voyages while supporting compliance with tightening regulatory frameworks.
The Maersk Tankers installation builds on bound4blue’s growing portfolio of projects with shipowners including Louis Dreyfus Company, Eastern Pacific Shipping, Odfjell, Klaveness Combination Carriers, and BW Epic Kosan—underscoring the rapid shift of wind propulsion from niche innovation to mainstream decarbonisation strategy.
As regulatory pressure intensifies and fuel costs rise, projects such as this signal that wind-assisted propulsion is no longer experimental, but a commercially viable and scalable solution available today.
www.bound4blue.com
