SPANISH wind sail developer bound4blue has announced the installation of the “world’s largest” suction sails, with four 26-meter high eSAILs fitted to Atlantic Orchard.
The vessel, a specialised juice carrier chartered by Louis Dreyfus Company and owned by Sweden’s Wisby Tankers AB, reportedly had the sails fitted in a single stop already planned for the 10-year survey at Astander Shipyard in Santander, Spain.
bound4blue said the 2014-built vessel, originally a dry bulk vessel before undergoing a conversion in 2020, will now enjoy simplified FuelEU Maritime compliance, taking advantage of the Wind Reward Factor, with further CII, EU ETS, and additional regulatory benefits.
The company said that depending on trading routes, the vessel will now benefit from fuel consumption and emission savings, projected to reach around 10%, also unlocking commercial advantages.
This latest installation marks the third so far this year for the wind technology developer, and is the latest in a series of recent installations that has seen the DNV Type Approved suction sails fitted to vessels ranging from MR Tankers to general cargo and ro-ro vessels.
CEO and co-founder of bound4blue, José Miguel Bermúdez commented, “eSAILs open an easy, proven and economically beneficial pathway to greener operations for a wide variety of shipping segments, including unique vessel types such as juice carriers”.
“This specialist project is a prime example of how our technology meets customer needs. In this case, the units were lifted into positions originally occupied by four deck cranes, with all electrical and structural work, sail preparation, and full unit programming carried out in one co-ordinated yard visit.
“We are thrilled to partner with ambitious and like-minded companies such as LDC and Wisby Tankers to accelerate shipping’s wind revolution, installing our mature, mechanically simple technology to deliver substantial fuel and emissions savings.”
bound4blue said Wind Assisted Propulsion Systems were identified for the 179-metre length-overall Atlantic Orchard following an exhaustive review of emissions reducing and efficiency boosting technology by LDC’s shipping decarbonisation team.
Lloyd’s Register was then called in to provide an expert third-party assessment of competing solutions, before bound4blue’s fully autonomous system was selected in late 2023.
“Reflecting LDC’s journey to help shape a low-carbon maritime industry, and thanks to bound4blue’s unique technology as well as Wisby Tankers’ collaboration, we are excited about this significant first step of a voyage that represents a new milestone in our Group’s long history in shipping,” said Sébastien Landerretche, LDC’s global head of freight.
“We look forward to sharing our initial experiences and insights in the weeks to come, as we complete our first crossing to Brazil, before returning to Europe.”
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