Wind-assisted propulsion system provider bound4blue has completed the first installation under its agreement with Maersk Tankers, fitting four eSAIL units onboard the medium-range tanker Maersk Trieste.
The project marks the opening phase of a contract signed in December 2024 covering 20 suction sails across five MR tankers, and represents bound4blue’s largest order to date.
bound4blue CEO and co-founder José Miguel Bermúdez said the installation was “a watershed moment” for the adoption of wind propulsion in shipping.
The company said its eSAIL system can deliver double-digit reductions in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions, while improving vessels’ Carbon Intensity Indicator ratings and supporting compliance with FuelEU Maritime, EEDI and EEXI requirements.
Installation was carried out in two stages, with preparatory work completed at Yiu Lian Shipyard in Shenzhen, China, and final fitting undertaken at EDR Shipyard in Belgium.
Claus Grønborg, chief investment officer at Maersk Tankers, said wind-assisted propulsion would enable “more energy-efficient voyages for our customers, while supporting compliance with FuelEU Maritime and the EU Emissions Trading System”.
