Bound4blue installs first four eSails on Maersk Trieste, marking a significant step in wind propulsion technology for maritime shipping.
Bound4blue has installed four of its 24-metre eSails on Maersk Tankers' MR vessel Maersk Trieste in Belgium, the first of 20 sails ordered for five ships under a deal signed in November 2024, reported the UK's Seatrade Maritime News.
The installation was completed at EDR Shipyard following preparatory works at Yiu Lian shipyard in China. The two-stage process, chosen with system integrator Njord, aimed to minimise downtime by fitting pedestals and electrical systems in China before mounting the sails and connecting them to power and data in Belgium.
The order is Bound4blue's largest to date, adding to contracts with Louis Dreyfus Company, Eastern Pacific Shipping, Odfjell, Klaveness Combination Carriers, and BW Epic Kosan. Deputy CEO Cristina Aleixendri Munoz said rollout projects such as Maersk's have boosted visibility for wind propulsion, while repeat business shows owners' confidence in the system.
Bound4blue reported fuel savings of 15-20 percent, peaking at 40 percent, from suction sails fitted on Odfjell Tankers' Bow Olympus during transatlantic voyages. Ms. Munoz stated that follow-on orders from Amasus and Eastern Pacific Shipping confirm consistent value across different operational profiles.
Eight ships have been fitted with Bound4blue sails so far, with 11 more in the order book. DNV figures show 24 ships delivered in 2025 with wind-assisted propulsion systems, totalling 63 sails, up from 22 ships with 49 sails in 2024.
Wind-assisted systems cut fuel use and CO2 emissions, improving CII ratings and compliance under EEDI/EEXI and FuelEU Maritime. Maersk Tankers' Chief Investment Officer Claus Gronborg said scaling such systems enables more efficient voyages and supports EU emissions trading rules.
Bound4blue CEO Jose Miguel Bermudez said the eSail system was designed for maximum performance with minimum complexity, allowing tankers to adopt wind propulsion safely and cost-effectively without altering operational profiles.