Spain-headed wind-assisted propulsion technology developer bound4blue S.L. and the Netherlands-headed global merchant and processor of agricultural goods, Louis Dreyfus Company B.V. (LDC) have announced a commercial agreement for the manufacture and installation of four "eSAILs" on LDC’s chartered juice vessel, MV Atlantic Orchard, in collaboration with Wisby Tankers AB.
Chartered by LDC and owned by Sweden-headed Wisby Tankers, MV Atlantic Orchard will be retrofitted with four 26-meter-high eSAILs.
The installation of the eSAILs is planned for 2024 and, depending on vessel routing, is expected to reduce annual fuel consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by at least 10 percent.
Suction sail technology
Being one of the key actors in the advancement and execution of maritime decarbonization solutions, bound4blue developed its cutting-edge eSAIL system based on wind-assisted propulsion technology known as a suction sail.
By harnessing wind power to propel vessels, this technology achieves a substantial reduction in fuel consumption and pollutant emissions.
The eSAIL system leverages a thick aerodynamic profile and intelligent suction mechanisms to enhance propulsive efficiency, yielding seven times more lift than an airplane wing.
We’re pleased to announce our agreement with LDC to implement our eSAIL system, demonstrating bound4blue’s ability to serve unique vessel types and affirming the maturity of our technology as a proven solution for fuel and emission reduction. LDC is at the forefront of adopting proven clean technologies to reduce carbon emissions in its fleet, and we are delighted to support them in their endeavor, said José Miguel Bermúdez, CEO of bound4blue.
The decision to implement this technology was based on a third-party assessment study carried out by Lloyd’s Register, which evaluated a range of solutions and identified bound4blue’s suction sails as the most promising.
Reflecting LDC’s commitment to help shape a low-carbon economy, we are actively contributing to the global shipping industry energy transition journey, in line with the IMO’s target to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from the sector by 2050. We are therefore very pleased to partner with two key maritime industry players, bound4blue and Wisby Tankers, to install this advanced sail technology aboard our chartered juice carrier said Sébastien Landerretche,Global Head of Freight at LDC.
