The government delegate in Cantabria, Eugenia Gómez de Diego, stressed the importance of innovation and sustainability in maritime transport during her visit to Astander, where the company bound4blue has installed the largest suction candle in the world, four units of 26 meters in height on the ship MV Atlantic Orchard.
Accompanied by the CEO and co-founder of the company, José Miguel Bermúdez, and the director of the shipyard Juan Luis Sánchez, Gómez de Diego highlighted that this project "represents the future of sustainable maritime transport and the innovative capacity of Cantabria".
The government delegate pointed out that "80% of the goods in the world are transported by ship", so "if we want to move towards a sustainable mobility model and meet climate objectives, it is essential to bet on innovative solutions" such as bound4blue technology.
To continue advancing maritime transport in an environmentally friendly development model, which also generates quality employment, the Government delegate has considered the collaboration between technology companies, shipyards and public administrations "key".
In this regard, he reaffirmed "the commitment of the Government of Spain to innovation, ecological transition and sustainable economic growth" and pointed out that bound4blue has received a contribution of 1.8 million euros from the Government of Spain through the European funds Next Generation, which has helped the company continue to develop its technology and promote the transformation of the naval sector and the decarbonization of maritime transport.
"The use of clean energy in maritime transport is an unpostponable necessity, and bound4blue is proving to be at the forefront of this transformation. Cantabria is a land of industry, talent and entrepreneurship, and today we show that the commitment to research and development has tangible results," said Gómez de Diego.
26 meters height
bound4blue has completed the installation of the world’s largest suction candles, with four 26-metre-high eSAIL® units installed in the MV Atlantic Orchard. Chartered by Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) and owned by Wisby Tankers AB, Sweden (Wisby Tankers), this vessel specializing in the transport of juice, has installed the sails in a single stop, which was previously scheduled to carry out its 10-year inspection at the Astander shipyard, in Santander, Spain.
The four 26-meter-high eSAIL® units were installed in less than one day per unit, as planned. The ship was built in 2014 and was originally a bulk carrier, prior to its conversion in 2020. By installing the eSAIL® system, you will be able to comply more easily with the FuelEU Maritime regulations, benefiting from the Wind Reward Factor, as well as obtaining additional advantages in terms of CII, EU ETS and other regulations.
Depending on the commercial routes, the vessel will benefit from fuel savings and a projected emission reduction of around 10%, taking advantage of additional commercial advantages.
Flexible, tested and cost effective
This latest installation marks the third made by bound4blue so far this year, highlighting the company’s ability to deliver, scale its technology and monitor its implementation. This is part of a series of recent installations in which bound4blue has delivered and installed its DNV certified suction sails to different types of vessels, from MR tankers to general cargo ships and ro-ro cargo ships. As explained by José Miguel Bermúdez, CEO and co-founder of bound4blue, this project demonstrates the simplicity and versatility of adopting wind propulsion systems (WPS) in an industry in transition.
José Miguel comments: “eSAILs® offer a simple, proven and cost-effective solution for more sustainable operations. They are compatible with a wide variety of maritime transport segments, including specialized ships such as juice conveyors. This project is a clear example of how our technology adapts to specific needs. In this case, the units were installed in the positions where there were originally four deck cranes, performing all the electrical and structural work, in addition to the preparation and programming of the candles. All this took place in a single coordinated stop at the shipyard."
José Miguel adds: “We are delighted to collaborate with visionary companies such as LDC and Wisby Tankers to drive the wind propulsion revolution in maritime transport. By installing our advanced, mechanically simple technology, we contribute to significant fuel and emissions savings.”
Expert reviews
Wind propulsion systems (WPS) were selected for the MV Atlantic Orchard after a thorough review by LDC’s marine decarbonization team of various technologies aimed at reducing emissions and improving efficiency. Subsequently, Lloyd’s Register was commissioned to carry out an expert and independent evaluation of the available solutions, until finally, at the end of 2023, the bound4blue system was selected.
“Reflecting LDC’s commitment to building a low-carbon maritime industry, and thanks to bound4blue’s unique technology and the collaboration of Wisby Tankers, we are excited about this first significant step in a journey that marks a new milestone in our group’s long history in shipping,” said Sébastien Landerretche, LDC Global Chartering Officer. “We look forward to sharing our first experiences and learnings in the coming weeks as we complete our first journey to Brazil before returning to Europe.”
Accelerating adoption
bound4blue eSAILs® have an ROI period of less than five years and can be installed on both new and existing ships, covering a wide variety of segments, including bulk carriers, chemi-carriers, ro-ro ships, gas carriers, general cargo ships, ferries and cruises, among others. Recently, the company has signed contracts with shipping companies such as Maersk Tankers, Marflet Marine, Eastern Pacific Shipping and Klaveness Combination Carriers, among others.