bound4blue and Marflet Marine fly the flag for innovation with landmark eSAIL® installation
bound4blue has completed the installation of four 22-metre eSAIL® suction sails onboard Marflet Marine’s Santiago I, positioning the company as the first Spanish merchant fleet owner to commit to wind-assisted propulsion and suction sails. The installation, completed at EDR Antwerp Shipyard following ‘wind ready’ preparation work at IMC Shipyard in Zhoushan, China, transforms the 49,999 ...
Spanish merchant fleet owner bound4blue and Marflet Marine have installed four 22-metre eSAIL® suction sails on the Santiago I, positioning the company as the first Spanish maritime entity to commit to wind-assisted propulsion and suction sails. The installation was completed at EDR Antwerp Shipyard, following preparatory work at IMC Shipyard in Zhoushan, China.
The 49,999 DWT chemical tanker has transformed into a flagship for Spanish maritime innovation, with the fully autonomous eSAIL® system generating additional propulsive force and reducing main engine load. This lowers fuel consumption and associated emissions while requiring minimal maintenance and workload from onboard crews.
According to José Miguel Bermúdez, CEO and co-founder of bound4blue, the installation represents a proud moment as it brings together two Spanish companies committed to innovation. Marflet Marine's leadership in embracing wind-assisted propulsion in 2024 has become a reality, showcasing practical, scalable technologies that improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and strengthen competitiveness.
Juan Cremades, Fleet Director at Marflet Marine, expressed excitement about the benefits of the installation. The company committed to the project because they believed wind-assisted propulsion offered a practical way to enhance environmental performance and commercial competitiveness. They plan to order additional eSAILs® for other vessels in their fleet.
Designed for retrofit and newbuild projects, bound4blue's DNV Type Approved eSAIL® systems are suitable for various vessel segments. With an expanding global orderbook and growing number of vessels operating with the technology, bound4blue continues to lead in the maritime industry's new 'wind revolution'.
Written by urgent.news from Hellenic Shipping News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.