Odfjell has signed a repeat order with bound4blue to install four 22-meter eSAILs® on the 49,000 dwt chemical tanker Bow Optima in Q2 2027. Building on strong efficiency gains observed on its sister vessel Bow Olympus, the project advances Odfjell’s long-term decarbonization strategy.
Barcelona, Spain | September 1, 2026 – Deep-sea chemical tanker owner and operator Odfjell has signed a repeat order with bound4blue to install eSAILs® on the 49,000 dwt chemical tanker Bow Optima. The retrofit is scheduled to take place in China in Q2 2027 and follows the successful installation of bound4blue’s suction sails on the sister vessel Bow Olympus in March 2025.
The agreement strengthens bound4blue’s growing presence in the tanker segment, bringing its total portfolio to 13 operational ships, five vessels in the order book, and more than 50 eSAILs® contracted or completed.
Proven Performance on the Water
The new contract builds directly on operational data collected from the Bow Olympus, which operates in Odfjell’s round-the-world trade. According to Odfjell, the vessel achieved a 15% to 20% energy-saving effect in good, but not perfect, wind conditions. This translates to roughly five tonnes of fuel saved per day and around 15 tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided daily, with peak fuel consumption reductions reaching up to 40% during specific operations.
“Odfjell has taken a practical, data-led approach to vessel efficiency over many years, and Bow Olympus has given us valuable operational experience with wind-assisted propulsion in deep-sea chemical tanker trades,” says Erik Hjortland, VP Technology at Odfjell. “The documented results from the first installation have strengthened our confidence in continuing with wind propulsion on selected vessels. Bow Optima is a natural next step, and the project supports our wider objective of reducing fuel consumption, emissions and exposure to future cost pressures.”
Streamlined Two-Phase Retrofit
Bow Optima has already been made wind-ready during a scheduled drydocking, featuring pre-installed eSAIL® foundations, cabling, and related deck ancillaries. This preparation minimizes the required workload during the upcoming Q2 2027 yard period in China, where four 22-meter-tall suction sails will be mounted upon delivery from bound4blue’s regional production facilities.
This deployment supports Odfjell’s long-term decarbonization trajectory. Over the past decade, the company has integrated more than 140 energy-saving devices across its fleet, cutting carbon intensity by over 53% relative to the International Maritime Organization’s 2008 baseline. Odfjell targets a 57% reduction by 2030.
Technology and Market Momentum
bound4blue’s eSAIL® technology utilizes an aerodynamically optimized structure and active airflow control to generate forward thrust up to seven times greater than conventional rigid sails of the same size. Operating autonomously, the system lowers engine load under appropriate wind conditions without increasing crew workloads.
For chemical tanker operators, wind-assisted propulsion acts as an immediate efficiency layer that operates alongside route optimization, alternative fuels, and carbon compliance frameworks such as the EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime.
“Odfjell’s repeat order is rooted in real operating experience, not just future ambition,” comments José Miguel Bermúdez, CEO and co-founder at bound4blue. “Bow Olympus demonstrated how suction sail technology can contribute to meaningful fuel savings in the demanding environment of deep-sea chemical tanker operations, and Bow Optima shows how that learning can be carried into further fleet deployment. We value the consolidated partnership with Odfjell, whose disciplined approach to decarbonisation and performance monitoring is exactly what the market needs as wind-assisted propulsion moves from first projects to repeat adoption.”
About bound4blue
bound4blue is a wind-assisted propulsion technology company supporting the maritime industry in reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Its eSAIL® system is an automated suction sail that uses wind as a clean energy source to deliver direct thrust to vessels. Founded in 2014, bound4blue is headquartered in Cantabria, Spain, with offices in Barcelona, Singapore, Shanghai, and Suzhou. The company works with shipowners, yards, and industry partners across newbuild and retrofit projects. Its client portfolio includes Eastern Pacific Shipping, Maersk Tankers, Odfjell, Klaveness Combination Carriers, BW Epic Kosan, and Louis Dreyfus Company, among others.
About Odfjell
Odfjell is a leading global shipping company specializing in the transportation and storage of bulk liquid chemicals, acids, edible oils, and other specialty liquids. With a history spanning over 100 years, Odfjell operates a modern fleet of vessels, combining performance, innovation, and sustainability. The Odfjell fleet comprises approximately 70 chemical tankers, while the tank terminal division consists of four tank terminals at strategic ports in the US, Korea, and Belgium. Odfjell is headquartered in Bergen, Norway, and employs around 2,300 seafarers and shore colleagues around the world. The company is committed to minimizing its environmental footprint and actively supports the industry’s transition towards decarbonization.
Source: bound4blue