bound4blue and Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) have completed the second installation of eSAIL® suction sails on EPS’ fleet, fitting three 22-metre-high units on the MR tanker Pacific Sunstone at New Times Shipbuilding in Jiangsu, China.
The eSAIL® units are designed for operational simplicity in complex, ATEX-regulated tanker environments.
They produce lift up to seven times greater than conventional rigid sails of the same size, require no tilting mechanisms, and do not affect a vessel’s airdraft.
Non-ATEX certification reduces installation and compliance complexity, lowering cost and streamlining adoption.
José Miguel Bermúdez, CEO of bound4blue, said: “Tankers are integral to world trade, but due to their complexity, decarbonisation can be challenging. Mechanically simple, easy-to-install solutions deliver double-digit fuel and emissions savings while easing regulatory compliance.”
READ: bound4blue raises $44 million to scale wind-powered sail
Performance data from Pacific Sentinel showed an average 8 per cent net power reduction, 5.5 per cent fuel savings, and peaks above 20 per cent under favourable wind conditions.
For Pacific Sunstone, foundations and electrical connections were incorporated into the newbuild programme, allowing a streamlined “plug and play” sail installation shipped from Spain.
Mirtcho Spassov, EPS Decarbonisation Manager, added: “Our experience with Pacific Sentinel demonstrated eSAIL®’s operational performance, making integration from day one on Pacific Sunstone a natural step. The system was incorporated seamlessly, improving efficiency and supporting decarbonisation goals.”
READ: bound4blue inks wind propulsion retrofit contract with Maersk Tankers
The project highlights the scalability of wind-assisted propulsion for both retrofit and newbuild programmes.
Suction sails, which generate lift by drawing air over an aerodynamically optimised surface, are suitable for tankers, bulk carriers, RoRos, and gas carriers.
bound4blue’s DNV-type-approved technology is now adopted by leading owners, including Odfjell, Maersk Tankers, Klaveness Combination Carriers, and BW Epic Kosan.
Typical payback for eSAIL® installations is under five years, with benefits applying across regulatory frameworks such as CII, EU ETS, EEDI/EEXI, and FuelEU Maritime.
For more information:
bound4blue – https://www.ics-shipping.org/
