Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) is embarking on a groundbreaking journey towards greener seas with its maiden venture into wind-assisted propulsion technology. In a landmark move, EPS has inked a deal with bound4blue to integrate three 22-meter eSAILs® onto the Pacific Sentinel, a 183-meter, 50,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) oil and chemical tanker. This innovative ‘suction sail’ system, designed to harness wind power by drawing air across aerodynamic surfaces, is anticipated to slash the vessel’s overall energy consumption by approximately 10%, contingent upon its routing.
The momentum behind bound4blue’s fully autonomous eSAIL® technology has been steadily building within the industry. This recent collaboration underscores the versatility of the system, catering to both newbuilds and retrofit projects across diverse vessel types, regardless of size or age.
José Miguel Bermudez, CEO and co-founder at bound4blue, believes the contract with EPS marks a significant milestone for the company. “Signing an agreement with an industry player of the scale and reputation of EPS not only highlights the growing recognition of wind-assisted propulsion as a vital solution for maximizing both environmental and commercial benefits, but also underscores the confidence industry leaders have in our proven technology,” he explains.
“It’s exciting to secure our first contract in Singapore, particularly with EPS, a company known for both its business success and its environmental commitment. We see the company as a role model for shipping in that respect. As such this is a milestone development, one that we hope will pave the way for future installations across EPS’ fleet, further solidifying our presence in the region.”
“EPS is committed to exploring and implementing innovative solutions that improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions across our fleet,” comments Cyril Ducau, Chief Executive Officer at EPS. “Over the past six years, our investments in projects including dual fuel vessels, carbon capture, biofuels, voyage optimisation technology and more have allowed us to reduce our emissions intensity by 30% and achieve an Annual Efficiency Ratio (AER) of 3.6 CO2g/dwt-mile in 2023, outperforming our emission intensity targets ahead of schedule. The addition of the bound4blue groundbreaking wind assisted propulsion will enhance our efforts on this path to decarbonise.”
“With this project, we are confident that the emission reductions gained through eSAILs® on Pacific Sentinel will help us better evaluate the GHG reduction potential of wind assisted propulsion on our fleet in the long run.”
Upon installation, the three eSAILs® aboard the Pacific Sentinel will operate in tandem with existing propulsion systems, leveraging an autonomous control system to optimize power utilization and curtail fuel consumption. This seamless integration underscores the simplicity and robustness of bound4blue’s solution, making it an ideal fit for EPS’ operational needs.
Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman and Chief Executive, said: “Wind-assisted propulsion is an energy efficiency technology with a significant role to play in helping the global fleet swiftly improve its carbon intensity. As we wait for global alternative fuel infrastructure to mature, utilizing a readily available and truly zero emission solution such as the wind, is a smart move. ABS is proud to support early adopters of this technology such as EPS, who are blazing a trail with this technology for the rest of the industry to follow.”
About Eastern Pacific Shipping
With six decades of history under its belt, Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) stands as a stalwart in the shipping domain, committed to fostering green and technology-driven growth. Headquartered in Singapore for the past three decades, EPS boasts a workforce of over 6,000 individuals overseeing a versatile fleet comprising over 250 vessels and 25 million deadweight tonnes across containership, dry bulk, and tanker segments. EPS’ holistic approach integrates in-house expertise across commercial, finance, innovation, IT, legal, manning, operations, and technical domains, underscoring its dedication to safe and efficient maritime transportation.
About bound4blue
Founded in 2014, bound4blue is at the vanguard of automated wind-assisted propulsion systems, offering turnkey solutions tailored to shipowners’ and shipping companies’ needs for fuel cost reduction and emission mitigation. The company’s eSAIL® system, validated for its efficacy in fuel savings and emissions reduction, boasts autonomous operation, low maintenance requirements, and straightforward installation. With headquarters in Cantabria, Spain, and offices in Barcelona and Singapore.
bound4blue’s suction sails cater to a diverse array of vessels, spanning tankers, bulkers, Ro-Ros, cruises, ferries, gas carriers, and general cargo vessels, irrespective of size or age. The company’s burgeoning portfolio includes installations on three ships to date, with additional agreements signed with prominent shipowners like Marubeni Corporation, Odfjell, SNA TUHA’A PAE, and Louis Dreyfus Armateurs, signaling growing industry traction for its innovative solutions.
Source Eastern Pacific Shipping