Wind propulsion company bound4blue has successfully installed two eSAILs on the Eems Traveller, a 2,850 deadweight tonnage (DWT) general cargo vessel owned by Amasus.
The eSAIL system, categorised as a suction sail, is based on the use of a thick aerodynamic profile and smart suction to increase the propulsive efficiency, resulting in a system that produces seven times more lift than an airplane wing.
These sails are said to embody a newer and enhanced generation of the system that was previously installed on the La Naumon vessel.
With a total height of 17 metres, they still retain their status as the largest suction sails ever constructed and implemented on a ship.
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The installation was executed in two different phases. One year ago, during a scheduled regular dry-dock of the vessel, the foundations for the eSAILs were manufactured and installed in the Netherlands.
Between these two phases, bound4blue said it has been monitoring the ship to establish a baseline performance that will be utilised by a third party to evaluate the fuel and pollution reductions over the following year.
As a result, scientific findings are acquired, which may be utilised to illustrate the real impacts of the system in operation on board the vessel and serve as the foundation for any future developments.
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José Miguel Bermúdez, CEO of bound4blue, stated: “In the same way that we need proven sustainable solutions to decarbonise the industry, we also need to implement them as fast and efficiently as possible.
“As evidence of this, we have utilised for the first time the port infrastructure to install our systems, demonstrating that shipowners don’t have to wait for the scheduled maintenance of the ship to start reaping the benefits of wind propulsion.”
Arend-Jan Rozema, Managing Director of Amasus, added: “The joint development of this wind propulsion concept marks an important milestone and contribution to the aspiration in creating a sustainable future.
“As Amasus, we are proud and delighted to realise this new project together with our partners from bound4blue.”
In April 2023, Ocean Network Express (ONE) planned to install two wind assist units on one of its container feeder ships before the end of 2023.
