bound4blue installs four eSAIL suction sails aboard the chemical tanker "Santiago I" from Marflet Marine

The Spanish company bound4blue has completed the installation of four 22-meter high eSAIL® suction sails aboard the chemical tanker "Santiago I" (IMO 9730347), owned by Marflet Marine.

The work was completed at the EDR shipyard in Antwerp (Belgium), after the vessel underwent the necessary preparation work in China for the installation. With this project, Marflet Marine has become the first Spanish owner of a merchant fleet to incorporate this wind-assisted propulsion technology.

The chemical tanker "Santiago I", flagged in Cyprus, is a 49,999 DWT tanker. Thanks to these four eSAIL® suction sails, the system will allow for a reduction of between 10% and 15% in annual energy consumption, depending on weather conditions and market factors.

This technology will also reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, it will help decrease the vessel's exposure to carbon costs and facilitate compliance with FuelEU Maritime requirements.

The eSAIL® sails from bound4blue use wind power to generate additional propulsion. The system channels air through an aerodynamic surface and can generate lift forces up to seven times greater than a conventional rigid sail of the same size. This reduces the effort required from the main engine, thereby lowering fuel consumption.

For Marflet Marine, the installation represents a new step in its strategy to improve efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of its operations. Juan Cremades, the company's fleet director, states that the company opted for this technology because it believes that wind-assisted propulsion can enhance both the environmental performance of vessels and their competitiveness. The company has also indicated that it plans to request more eSAIL® systems for other vessels in its fleet.

Photo: bound4blue