OSLO, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Four 24-meter eSAIL suction sails have been installed on the Maersk Tahiti tanker at a shipyard in China in April, marking the second installation under a five-vessel wind propulsion project between Danish tanker operator Maersk Tankers and Spanish company bound4blue.
The project involves the installation of 20 eSAIL units across five medium-range tankers operated by Maersk Tankers. The first installation, on board the Maersk Trieste, was completed in January, bound4blue said in a statement to Xinhua on Tuesday.
The latest installation was completed at Chengxi Shipyard in Jiangyin, east China's Jiangsu Province. Bound4blue said the delivery followed its efforts last year to build strategic partnerships in China to expand production, logistics and service capacity.
According to the company, the Maersk Tahiti installation is designed to help reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, while improving the vessel's Carbon Intensity Indicator rating and supporting compliance with maritime decarbonization regulations.
The eSAIL system operates by drawing air across an aerodynamically optimized surface to generate lift, reducing engine load and helping vessels use wind power as an auxiliary propulsion source. The system is designed for autonomous operation, easy installation and low maintenance, bound4blue said.
Jose Miguel Bermudez, CEO and co-founder of bound4blue, said the agreement with Maersk Tankers reflects the shipping industry's growing adoption of wind-assisted propulsion, adding that the technology offers environmental and commercial advantages.
Founded in 2014, bound4blue develops automated wind propulsion systems for shipowners and shipping companies seeking to reduce fuel costs and emissions. The company said it has deployed its eSAIL system on 11 ships, with seven more vessels in its order book. ■