One of world’s largest shipping tanker operators signs up for wind-assisted propulsion systems

Danish maritime shipping company Maersk Tankers has placed an order for 20 wind-assisted propulsion systems to be installed on five of its medium range tankers in an effort to reduce CO2 emissions.  

One of the world’s largest tanker operators, Maersk Tankers says it has placed an order for 20 suction sails from Spanish firm Bound4Blue. The 20 “eSails” will be installed on five medium range (MR) tankers in 2025 and 2026 and will mark the largest deployment of Bound4Blue’s eSail technology to date.

Bound4Blue, which was founded in 2014 and has cemented itself as a leader in automated Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS), will supply and install the suction sails, while green technology catalyst Njord will lead the integration, installation, and validation of the systems.

The eSails work by dragging air across its aerodynamic surface to generate lift and propulsive efficiency, helping to significantly reduce fuel use and CO2 emissions.

Currently, Bound4Blue says that it has supplied 7 eSails which are in use on 4 ships, with a further 20 eSails set to be installed on 6 more ships in the near future.

While Bound4Blue’s claims that its eSail technology are expected to deliver “double-digit percentage reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions per vessel”, the company appears to have been tight-lipped with exactly what the data has revealed regarding cost reductions.

Bound4Blue announced earlier this year that it would reveal specific information to stakeholders at the SMM trade fair in Hamburg, and in October promised that details of third party validation conducted by Lloyd’s Register would be released to demonstrate the benefits of its eSail technology.

The company’s website is also short on specifics as to how effectively its eSail technology reduces fuel costs and emissions, but does claim that “No matter the fuel, the more cargo ships can rely on wind, the more certainty they will achieve regarding their operating costs and the lower those will be.”

The 20 eSails – to be installed on the Maersk Tacoma, Maersk Tampa, Maersk Tangier, Maersk Teesport, and Maersk Tokyo – will be installed four to a ship, and will be capable of automatically adjusting to wind conditions for optimal performance.

“For the tanker industry to progress in the energy transition, concrete investments and actions are essential,” said Claus Grønborg, chief investment officer for Maersk Tankers.

“At Maersk Tankers, we are committed to leading by example, continuously adopting advanced energy-efficient technologies to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

“By implementing Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems at scale in our fleet, we enable our customers to meet their sustainability targets, while also advancing the objectives of FuelEU Maritime and the EU Emissions Trading System.”

This will not be the first time Maersk Tankers has experimented with WAPS technology, having first introduced the technology to its fleet in 2018 with the installation of rotor sails on the Maersk Pelican.

Specifically, two Norsepower Rotor Sails were installed onboard Maersk Pelican in August 2018 and immediately yielded results, delivering an aggregated total fuel saving of 8.2 per cent over a 12-month period – equivalent to avoiding approximately 1,400 tonnes of CO2.

Based on this experience, Maersk Tankers expects double-digit percentage reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions per vessel with the installation of Bound4Blue’s eSails.

“The trust Maersk Tankers has placed in our technology reinforces the proven capabilities of our solution in reducing fuel consumption and emissions, while contributing to CII and FuelEU regulatory compliance,” said José Miguel Bermúdez, CEO and co-founder at Bound4Blue.

“Designed to operate safely in challenging conditions, our system is particularly well-suited for safe, high performing and cost-efficient operation on tankers.”