bound4blue, a developer of automated wind-assisted propulsion systems and Amasus Shipping have successfully completed the installation of a 22-metre eSAIL® on the general cargo vessel Fluvius Tavy at Astander Shipyard in Santander, Spain.
The project represents the second collaboration between the two companies, highlighting the scalability of bound4blue’s suction sail technology and reinforcing growing confidence among shipowners in wind-assisted propulsion.
The latest adoption of bound4blue’s autonomous suction sails follows a previous installation on board Amasus’ Eems Traveller, where two 17-metre eSAILs® became the first of their kind to be fitted on a general cargo vessel. Since then, the DNV Type Approved technology has also been retrofitted to vessels operated by other forward-thinking owners such as Odfjell, Louis Dreyfus Armateurs and Eastern Pacific Shipping, with fuel and emissions savings already proven and independently validated in operation.
“Our collaboration with Amasus continues to demonstrate that wind propulsion is gaining broader acceptance as a practical, profitable, and, crucially, a proven solution for an industry in transition,” comments José Miguel Bermúdez, CEO and Co-founder of bound4blue “This installation is particularly noteworthy as it is the largest suction sail ever fitted to a general cargo vessel and, following a previous installation on the Eems Traveller, a very clear endorsement of the value Amasus sees in our technology. We’re delighted to help forward-thinking owners and partners, like Amasus, turn their sustainability ambitions into profitable results.”
The retrofit was completed in a single visit to Astander, with all preparatory and installation work carried out within the vessel’s scheduled maintenance period. Structural and electrical adaptations were made to the deck to accommodate the sail’s foundations, after which the fully pre-commissioned unit, manufactured in Spain by Haizea-Tecnoaranda, was lifted into place in a streamlined, plug-and-play process.
Amasus says of the project: “The decision to install a second eSAIL® reflects how satisfied we are with the performance and how smoothly it has integrated into our day-to-day operations. Our experience with bound4blue’s suction sails highlights their suitability for short-sea general cargo vessels like ours. We’re happy to continue working with bound4blue and would like to thank their team, as well as the yard, for another seamless and efficient Amasus installation. We’re now looking forward to seeing the fuel and emissions savings this new installation will deliver.”
bound4blue’s autonomous eSAILs® work by drawing air across an aerodynamically optimised surface to generate lift up to seven times greater than conventional rigid sails of a comparable size. The fully autonomous technology can be easily tailored for individual vessel configurations and a broad range of segments, including tankers, bulk carriers, Ro-Ros, cruise vessels, ferries, and gas carriers, amongst others. Alongside Amasus, other leading shipowners such as Eastern Pacific Shipping, Odfjell and Louis Dreyfus Company, have recently completed installations.
