bound4blue has signed a repeat order with Odfjell, a leading deep-sea chemical tanker owner and operator, for the installation of eSAILs® on the 49,000 dwt chemical tanker Bow Optima. The retrofit, scheduled to take place in China in Q2 2027, follows the installation of bound4blue's suction sails on sister vessel Bow Olympus in March 2025, reflecting Odfjell's confidence in the technology as part of its fleet decarbonisation strategy. The order comes as shipping faces tightening regulatory pressure, with the IMO having agreed a net-zero emissions framework in 2025 that includes GHG fuel standards and pricing mechanisms, adding to existing rules such as the EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime.

Repeat confidence

Bow Optima operates in Odfjell's round-the-world trade, supporting the safe and efficient transportation of liquids and chemicals for the company's global customer base. The vessel has already been made wind-ready during a scheduled drydocking, with the installation of eSAIL® foundations, cabling, and related deck ancillaries. The four 22m tall suction sails will be fitted to these foundations following delivery from bound4blue's production facilities in China.

The new order builds on operational experience from Bow Olympus, where Odfjell has reported strong early performance from the vessel's existing eSAIL® installation. According to Odfjell, Bow Olympus observed a 15–20% energy-saving effect in good, but not perfect, wind conditions — equivalent to approximately five tonnes of fuel saved per day and around 15 tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided per day. Odfjell has also reported fuel consumption reductions of up to 40% during operation. Wind-assisted propulsion is one of the few currently available technologies that can deliver fuel savings on existing vessels without waiting for alternative fuels to scale, which is why it has attracted growing interest across the tanker and bulker segments.

Future-proofed fleet

The contract is Odfjell's first repeat order with bound4blue and supports the company's broader programme of deploying energy-saving technology across its fleet. Over the last decade, Odfjell has installed more than 140 energy-saving devices on its vessels, reducing carbon intensity by more than 53% compared with the International Maritime Organization's 2008 baseline. The company is targeting a further improvement to 57% by 2030.

"Odfjell has taken a practical, data-led approach to vessel efficiency over many years, and Bow Olympus has given us valuable operational experience with wind-assisted propulsion in deep-sea chemical tanker trades," says Erik Hjortland, VP Technology at Odfjell. "The documented results from the first installation have strengthened our confidence in continuing with wind propulsion on selected vessels. Bow Optima is a natural next step, and the project supports our wider objective of reducing fuel consumption, emissions and exposure to future cost pressures."

Building tanker momentum

bound4blue's eSAIL® is a fully automated suction sail technology that uses an aerodynamically optimised structure and active airflow control to generate additional propulsive force from wind. This allows the vessel to reduce engine load under suitable operating conditions, lowering fuel consumption and associated emissions. The system is designed to operate autonomously, minimising additional workload for crew, and can be integrated into both retrofit and newbuild projects.

As of today, bound4blue has deployed eSAIL® systems on thirteen ships, with five more in its order book, representing more than 50 eSAILs® overall, including 10 installations completed or contracted for the tanker segment.

For chemical tanker operators, wind-assisted propulsion can provide a direct efficiency measure that works alongside existing propulsion systems, route optimisation, alternative fuels, and other onboard energy-saving technologies. By reducing fuel consumption, it can also help owners limit exposure to fuel price volatility and carbon-related costs, including under frameworks such as the EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime.

Scaling wind-assisted propulsion adoption

"Odfjell's repeat order is rooted in real operating experience, not just future ambition," comments José Miguel Bermúdez, CEO and co-founder at bound4blue. "Bow Olympus demonstrated how suction sail technology can contribute to meaningful fuel savings in the demanding environment of deep-sea chemical tanker operations, and Bow Optima shows how that learning can be carried into further fleet deployment. We value the consolidated partnership with Odfjell, whose disciplined approach to decarbonisation and performance monitoring is exactly what the market needs as wind-assisted propulsion moves from first projects to repeat adoption."

The two-phase approach on Bow Optima also illustrates how owners can prepare vessels for wind-assisted propulsion installation during scheduled yard periods. By completing foundation and cabling work in advance, Odfjell has reduced the scope required for the planned Q2 2027 sail installation, supporting a more efficient retrofit process when the eSAILs® are delivered.

The order adds to growing market evidence that wind propulsion is moving into repeat deployment among owners assessing practical pathways to lower fuel use and emissions. For the sector, the next markers to watch will be whether Odfjell extends the technology to further vessels and whether the documented fuel savings from Bow Olympus are sustained over longer operating periods.

bound4blue's eSAILs® generate forward thrust up to seven times greater than conventional rigid sails of the same size. The mechanically simple, non-ATEX units are suitable for a broad range of vessel types, including tankers, bulkers, ro-ros, cruise vessels, ferries, gas carriers, and general cargo vessels.

Source: bound4blue