Spanish company bound4blue, which specialises in auxiliary wind propulsion systems, has successfully completed the installation of three eSAIL suction sails on board a product tanker, the Pacific Sentinel, owned by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS).

The installation of the three 22 m high sails was carried out at the Besiktas shipyard in Turkey, taking advantage of a scheduled shutdown of the vessel. The assembly of the systems was completed in less than three days, as planned.

The eSAIL auxiliary wind propulsion system developed by bound4blue is based on the use of a thick sail with an intelligent suction system. These sails are easy to install, operate and maintain, have very few moving parts and are suitable for almost all types of vessels. The company expects fuel savings of approximately 10%, depending on the route.

The installation of the systems on the Pacific Sentinel, a 50,000 dwt product tanker, presented a number of unique challenges, including the vessel´s strut and the existence of ATEX zones (where equipment installed on board must comply with explosion-proof regulations). It was carried out in collaboration with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), meeting classification and safety standards. ABS played a key role in granting the ‘wind-assisted’ notation, fundamental for the structural integration of eSAILs with the ship and their alignment with regulatory frameworks such as the ETS Directive, the FuelEU Maritime Regulation or the IMO´s IIC.

News and image obtained: ‘Asociación de Navieros Españoles’.