bound4blue Installs World’s Largest Suction Sails on MV Atlantic Orchard

bound4blue has announced the successful completion of the installation of the world’s largest suction sails on the MV Atlantic Orchard. The vessel, chartered by Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) and owned by Wisby Tankers AB, Sweden, now boasts four 26-meter high eSAILs® fitted during a planned stop at Astander Shipyard, Santander, Spain.

The installation of the four eSAILs® was completed in under a day per unit, ensuring optimal efficiency for the specialized juice carrier. With the sails in place, the MV Atlantic Orchard will benefit from simplified FuelEU Maritime compliance, along with fuel consumption and emission savings projected to reach around 10%, unlocking commercial advantages and regulatory benefits.

Flexible, Proven, Profitable

This latest installation marks bound4blue’s third deployment this year, showcasing the company’s ability to deliver and scale its technology. The DNV Type Approved suction sails have been fitted to a range of vessels, demonstrating the simplicity and versatility of adopting advanced Wind Propulsion Systems (WPS) in the maritime industry.

CEO and Co-founder of bound4blue, José Miguel Bermúdez, emphasizes the economic and environmental benefits of eSAILs® for various shipping segments, including unique vessel types like juice carriers. The successful installation on the MV Atlantic Orchard highlights the simplicity and efficiency of the technology.

Expert Assessments

LDC’s shipping decarbonization team identified WPS as a viable solution for the MV Atlantic Orchard after a thorough review of emissions-reducing technologies. Lloyd’s Register provided an expert assessment, leading to the selection of bound4blue’s fully autonomous system in late 2023.

Sébastien Landerretche, LDC’s Global Head of Freight, expresses excitement about the collaboration with bound4blue and Wisby Tankers, marking a significant step towards a low-carbon maritime industry. The initial experiences and insights from the voyage to Brazil and back to Europe will be shared in the coming weeks.

Accelerating Adoption

With a typical payback period of less than five years, bound4blue eSAILs® are suitable for newbuilds or retrofitting across various vessel segments. Shipping companies like Maersk Tankers, Marflet Marine, Eastern Pacific Shipping, and Klaveness Combination Carriers have already placed orders, accelerating the adoption of wind propulsion technology in the industry.

The products and services herein described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.