In a landmark agreement, BW Epic Kosan, a world leader in LPG, petrochemicals, and specialty gas transportation, has signed a contract with Spanish wind propulsion pioneer bound4blue for the installation of a 24-meter tall eSAIL ® suction sail on the 2007-built LPG carrier Helena Kosan.
The autonomous eSAIL technology will enable the vessel to reduce fuel consumption, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and lower operating costs, while simplifying compliance with tightening international regulations.
“The tanker and LPG market is a key growth area for bound4blue, so it’s fantastic to agree a contract with the world leader in last-mile delivery of LPG, petrochemicals and other specialty gases” comments José Miguel Bermúdez, CEO & Co-founder, bound4blue. “Our mechanically simple solution delivers unique benefits for the segment, with the ability to position the sail’s maintenance door far above the deck and thus entirely remove the system from hazardous areas. This means non-explosion proof units can be installed easily on a vessel such as an LPG carrier, or any other tanker, negating the need for more costly, complex ATEX-proof solutions.”
“When this simplicity is added to the proven performance and benefits of the system, which is also compact in size due to its exceptional propulsive efficiency, you have a technology perfectly suited to help owners such as BW Epic Kosan meet ambitious commercial and environmental goals. We’re thrilled to partner with the team for this exciting project.”
The DNV Type Approved eSAIL® works by dragging air across an aerodynamic surface to generate lift up to seven times greater than rigid sails of the same size, delivering greater power through smaller vessel footprints. In doing so, fuel use and emissions are reduced, easing compliance with regulations such as EU ETS, CII, FuelEU Maritime (with additional benefits through the wind reward factor) and the newly proposed IMO GFI framework.
Recent orders for eSAILs® have been placed by companies such as Maersk Tankers, Marflet Marine and Klaveness Combination Carriers, with new installations completed for Odfjell, Eastern Pacific Shipping and Louis Dreyfus Company.
“We are committed to investing in proven technology that supports and enables our drive to reduce operational environmental footprints,” explains Jakob Bode, CEO, BW Epic Kosan. “We have so far introduced a range of innovations including ultrasonic transducers, graphene-based propeller coatings and advanced weather routing to cut emissions and empower efficiencies, in addition to actively participating in projects to advance the adoption of green fuels such as ammonia.”
“Wind power was identified as having potential and, after careful studies, bound4blue’s eSAIL® was selected as the system of choice. We look forward to benefitting from its simplicity and efficacy in action on the Helena Kosan from 2026 onwards.”
The installation will be carried out in a simple two-step process, with preparatory work conducted at a scheduled dry docking in 2025 and a ‘plug and play’ fitting of the unit the following year.
bound4blue’s eSAILs are suitable for both newbuilds and retrofitting across the vast majority of vessel segments, including, but not limited to, Tankers, Bulkers, Ro-Ros, Cruise ships, Ferries, Gas Carriers, and General Cargo vessels. The technology offers a typical payback period of less than five years.
