Marflet Marine has completed the installation of four Bound4blue eSAIL suction sails on the Santiago I, a chemical tanker of 49,999 deadweight tons. The operation makes the company the first operator of the Spanish merchant fleet to operate with this wind-assisted propulsion system, according to information provided by Bound4blue.
The four installed units have a height of 22 meters and have been incorporated into the vessel at the EDR Antwerp Shipyard facilities in Antwerp. Previously, the Santiago I had carried out the necessary work to prepare the vessel for installation during a stay at the IMC Shipyard in Zhoushan, China. The project has also received engineering support from the Spanish company Cotenaval.
The contract between Marflet Marine and Bound4blue was formalized in May 2024 and originally contemplated the incorporation of four eSAIL units to the vessel. At that time, Cotenaval took on work related to the design of the foundations for the sails and the electrical installation necessary to integrate the new equipment on board.
With the four units now operational, Bound4blue estimates that the Santiago I can reduce its annual energy consumption by approximately 10% to 15%, although the result will depend on factors such as the routes taken, weather conditions, and the operating profile of the vessel. The reduction in demand from the main engine also implies lower fuel consumption and associated emissions.
The installed technology operates through a suction system that controls the airflow around an aerodynamic surface to generate additional propulsive force from the wind. The units operate autonomously and allow for a decrease in the load required by the main engine when conditions are suitable. Bound4blue indicates that its systems have DNV type approval and can be used in both new construction projects and existing vessels.
The installation also influences compliance with European regulations on maritime transport emissions. By reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, the use of the sails can lessen the vessel's exposure to costs associated with the European emission trading system, EU ETS, and contribute to compliance with FuelEU Maritime, according to Bound4blue's estimates.
Marflet Marine had announced in 2024 that the incorporation of this system was part of its actions aimed at improving the operational efficiency of the Santiago I. The company's Fleet Director, Juan Cremades, stated at that time that the eSAILs would optimize fuel consumption efficiency and reduce the vessel's emissions.