bound4blue suction sail for Odfjell chemical tanker

The suction sail will significantly reduce the tanker’s fuel consumption and emissions and installation will be completed in 2024.

Although the final decision on which ship has not yet been taken, the suction sail is most likely to be installed on the 49,999dwt Bow Orion, built in 2019, Seatrade Maritime News has been told.

Odfjell’s decision to work with Barcelona-based bound4blue was supported by a major study undertaken by Sweden’s SSPA Maritime Center, a ship performance data analyst and member of the International Windship Association. The SSPA analysis assessed a range of wind-assisted propulsion options for the Odfjell fleet.

The shipping company’s Project Manager, Jan Opedal, commented: "Since 2020, we have been studying sail technologies as a potential energy efficiency measure for our fleet, and we are excited to now take the next step by partnering with bound4blue to implement their pioneering eSAIL system on one of our chemical tankers. This technology has significant potential to reduce emissions by harvesting the energy on the ship itself and transforming it directly into a forward thrust.”

David Ferrer, bound4blue CTO, said: “We are thrilled to team up with Odfjell for our first-ever installation in the tanker segment. They are true pioneers in innovation and sustainability, setting the bar for decarbonisation in the industry. We are pleased that they have chosen our technology after their thorough analysis, confirming that we are headed in the right direction. Working with their open and collaborative team has been fantastic, and we are confident that our joint efforts will unlock significant value for the industry.”

Erik Hjortland, Odfjell’s Vice President of Technology, declared: “As the first tanker company to test the suction-sail technology, we demonstrate our innovative capabilities and dedication to a more sustainable shipping sector. We all have a responsibility to use as few resources as possible, and Odfjell’s long-time efforts in energy efficiency have significantly reduced our fleet’s emissions. The work continues, and we look forward to documenting further improvements with the installation of suction sails.”

The initiative will take the chemical tanker operator one stage further on its decarbonisation journey. The company recently revealed a 51% reduction in carbon intensity compared with a 2008 baseline.

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