bound4blue - Experts & Thought Leaders

bound4blue and Amasus Shipping have completed the installation of a 22-metre eSAIL® on the general cargo vessel Fluvius Tavy at Astander Shipyard in Santander, Spain. The project marks the companies’ second installation, reinforcing both the scalability of suction sail technology and the growing confidence of shipowners in wind propulsion as a mainstream decarbonisation solution. The latest adoption of bound4blue’s autonomous suction sails follows a previous installation on board Amasus’ Eems Traveller, where two 17-metre eSAILs® became the first of their kind to be fitted on a general cargo vessel. Since then, the DNV Type Approved technology has also been retrofitted to vessels operated by other forward-thinking owners such as Odfjell, Louis Dreyfus Armateurs and Eastern Pacific Shipping, with fuel and emissions savings already proven and independently validated in operation. Trusted formula “Our collaboration with Amasus continues to demonstrate that wind propulsion is gaining broader acceptance as a practical, profitable, and, crucially, a proven solution for an industry in transition,” comments José Miguel Bermúdez, CEO and Co-founder of bound4blue. “This installation is particularly noteworthy as it is the largest suction sail ever fitted to a general cargo vessel and, following a previous installation on the Eems Traveller, a very clear endorsement of the value Amasus sees in our technology. We’re delighted to help forward-thinking owners and partners, like Amasus, turn their sustainability ambitions into profitable results.” "Bermúdez adds that the new project is forecasted to “deliver significant double-digit reductions in vessel fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions”. Easy does it The retrofit was completed in a single visit to Astander, with all preparatory and installation work carried out within the vessel’s scheduled maintenance period. Structural and electrical adaptations were made to the deck to accommodate the sail’s foundations, after which the fully pre-commissioned unit, manufactured in Spain by Haizea-Tecnoaranda, was lifted into place in a streamlined, plug-and-play process. Amasus says of the project: “The decision to install a second eSAIL® reflects how satisfied we are with the performance and how smoothly it has integrated into our day-to-day operations. Our experience with bound4blue’s suction sails highlights their suitability for short-sea general cargo vessels like ours. We’re happy to continue working with bound4blue and would like to thank their team, as well as the yard, for another seamless and efficient Amasus installation. We’re now looking forward to seeing the fuel and emissions savings this new installation will deliver.” Tailored flexibility bound4blue’s autonomous eSAILs® work by drawing air across an aerodynamically optimised surface to generate lift up to seven times greater than conventional rigid sails of a comparable size. The fully autonomous technology can be easily tailored for individual vessel configurations and a broad range of segments, including tankers, bulk carriers, Ro-Ros, cruise vessels, ferries, and gas carriers, amongst others. Alongside Amasus, other pioneering shipowners such as Eastern Pacific Shipping, Odfjell and Louis Dreyfus Company, have recently completed installations.

bound4blue, a pioneer in wind propulsion systems, has closed a US$44 million funding round backed by pioneering maritime corporates, ship owning families, climate-focused investors and government capital.  The round was led by OCTAVE Capital, an investment platform affiliated with major shipowner: IMC, and Katapult Ocean. The round brings together new investors, including Motion Ventures, Odfjell family office and ReOcean Fund - led by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and Monaco Asset Management - alongside existing investors Shift4Good, GTT Strategic Ventures, KAI Capital and CDTI (Innvierte SICC), who strengthened their commitment to the company. Advance new developments “This round signals a new phase for bound4blue. Earlier stages focused on proving the technology and validating its impact; now this new capital reinforces the long-term backing we already have from investors who understand shipping and share our industrial vision and the role this technology will play across the fleet,” said José Miguel Bermúdez, CEO & Co-Founder of bound4blue.  “This funding enables us to expand capacity, accelerate our growth roadmap and advance new developments that will elevate both the technology and our services to the next level. It confirms that bound4blue is built on solid foundations and positioned for sustained global deployment,” he added. Full industrialisation of suction sails The investment underscores a growing industry consensus: suction sails are emerging as the leading pathway for immediate, scalable decarbonisation across the global fleet with commercial gains.  The new funding will accelerate bound4blue’s shift into full industrialisation of suction sails and support efforts to deepen R&D as the company looks to grow beyond existing commercial offerings. The company is also responding to increased market demand by expanding manufacturing capacity to supply hundreds of suction sails annually.  Impact bound4blue’s systems Operational data continues to confirm the scale of impact bound4blue’s systems have had across several fleets. The company has already installed its technology on seven vessels, with a further twelve ships in the orderbook - representing more than fifty sails in total. These projects span pioneering owners such as Maersk Tankers, Eastern Pacific Shipping, Odfjell, Klaveness Combination Carriers and BW Epic Kosan, reinforcing bound4blue’s position as a preferred partner for forward-thinking players across the sector. By 2027, the company is expected to deliver annual CO₂ savings of more than 400,000 tons, with over 570,000 tons avoided in total between 2024 and 2027 - the equivalent of removing around 87,000 passenger cars from the road each year, planting more than 18 million trees, or avoiding over 250,000 transatlantic flights. This will be done through parallel production lines in Spain and China, enabling higher production throughput, stronger supply-chain resilience and faster delivery schedules. Long-dated fuel transitions May Liew, Chief Executive Officer at OCTAVE Capital, said: “We invested in bound4blue because wind propulsion systems have moved from promising innovation to proven, scalable climate infrastructure. For the maritime sector, where long-dated fuel transitions remain critical but still years from wide-scale adoption, this technology provides the real and immediate carbon emissions reductions needed right now."  " With bound4blue industrialising production across both Europe and Asia, the team is well positioned it to lead the category worldwide. As an impact-driven investor with an interest in decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors, we believe bound4blue will play a critical role in accelerating shipping’s transition while delivering measurable carbon savings from day one.” Bound4blue as wind propulsion Jonas Skattum Svegaarden, CEO at Katapult Ocean, added:  “After years of looking for the right opportunity in this space, we were driven to invest in bound4blue as wind propulsion has clearly shifted from experimental concept to bankable decarbonisation tool, and bound4blue in particular has proven it can deliver meaningful, verifiable fuel and emissions reductions at a category-defining pace." "As the team scales into Asia and deepens partnerships with pioneering shipowners, we’re confident that their combination of technical performance, commercial traction, and global supply chain ambition will make bound4blue a cornerstone solution in the transition to a cleaner, more resilient ocean economy.” Bound4blue’s suction sails By generating additional thrust from wind power, bound4blue’s suction sails ‘eSAILs®’ reduce engine loads and fuel consumption, cutting vessel operating costs (with double-digit savings) and CO₂ emissions. This greatly improves regulatory performance under frameworks like CII, EEXI/EEDI, FuelEU Maritime and EU ETS. Independently verified results demonstrate consistent, tangible impact in service. On Ville de Bordeaux, third-party assessments reported daily fuel savings of 1.7 tonnes, with peaks reaching 5.4 tonnes.  Separately, on Odfjell’s Bow Olympus, the system delivered average fuel-saving of 15-20%, with voyage-leg peaks of up to 40% reductions during its first transatlantic voyage. Verified under full operational conditions, bound4blue’s suction sails are delivering real savings now on vessels trading globally. Efficiency upgrades before 2030 The maritime industry is entering what many describe as the “retrofit decade”, with tens of thousands of vessels requiring efficiency upgrades before 2030. Unlike alternative fuels, which face long timelines for global availability, engine compatibility and bunkering infrastructure, suction sails can be installed now, on the ships, operated by the crews.  The technology is also increasingly being incorporated into newbuild designs, where it offers an additional long-term lever to reduce fuel consumption and carbon exposure from day one. This position bound4blue to support both the large retrofit wave already underway and the growing number of newbuild projects integrating wind propulsion from the outset.

bound4blue, a global pioneer in wind propulsion systems, has expanded its industrial footprint in Asia with the establishment of new production capabilities in China, alongside the signing of strategic regional partnerships to accelerate adoption of its proven eSAIL® suction sail technology. The expansion marks a major step in the company’s global growth strategy, positioning bound4blue closer to key shipbuilding and retrofitting hubs. This allows bound4blue to manufacture near the yards where their systems will be integrated, both for newbuildings and for vessels calling in Asia for retrofit, ultimately helping shipowners achieve measurable reductions in fuel consumption and emissions. Offshore manufacturing capabilities Production in China will be handled through a network of outsourced industrial partners with strong naval and offshore manufacturing capabilities. The facilities - strategically located around Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta - are certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards, use APQP4wind tools and regularly evaluated by major classification societies including DNV, BV or Lloyd’s Register. The partners’ combined capacity supports the production of up to 100 eSAIL® units annually from 2026, with the potential for significant expansion through the allocation of additional space and inclusion of secondary facilities. Safety-critical environments By localising production, bound4blue will reduce lead times for its Model 2 and Model 3 eSAILs®, while improving logistics efficiency for projects throughout Asia. The proximity to key shipyards in China, South Korea and Japan streamlines installations, bringing the company closer to both its customers and the world’s most active newbuilding hubs. In a further signal of bound4blue’s regional commitment, the company has also announced a series of partnerships with manufacturing suppliers in China. These include a specialist in heavy-marine and port-handling equipment with deep expertise in offshore vessels, ship-loaders and heavy steel structures; a leading global structure provider; and a trusted global provider of lifting and material-handling systems with a proven record in safety-critical environments and advanced engineering. Global shipbuilding output The collaborations will initially focus on manufacturing and logistics, with plans to extend into after-sales service and technical support as more fleets operating in the region adopt bound4blue’s technology. Combined with bound4blue’s experienced engineering team in Europe, these partnerships further strengthen the company’s presence in Asia’s maritime supply chain, reinforcing its ability to deliver complete, end-to-end solutions locally.  With China accounting for the majority of global shipbuilding output, the region is a critical location for scaling wind propulsion. Newbuilding integration opportunities and retrofit demand are growing in tandem with the country’s commitment to its ‘dual carbon’ goals, which aim to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve neutrality by 2060. Ambitious sustainability goals Speaking about the expansion and regional opportunity, Juan José Arrebola, COO of bound4blue, explains: “China is central to the future of maritime decarbonisation. It’s where a large share of the world’s new vessels are designed and built, and where shipowners are looking for proven, practical technologies to meet fuel and emission targets. By expanding our production network and partnerships here, we’re ensuring that our suction sails can be delivered faster, at greater scale and with the same quality standards that have defined our European operations from day one." “This is about more than manufacturing. It’s about proximity, collaboration and trust. Working alongside leading Chinese partners allows us to respond faster to customer needs, simplify project logistics and contribute directly to the region’s and the global industry’s ambitious sustainability goals.” Aerodynamically optimised surface bound4blue’s eSAIL® is an advanced suction sail system that uses fans to draw air across an aerodynamically optimised surface, creating lift up to seven times greater than that of a conventional rigid sail of the same size. The system is fully autonomous, mechanically simple and designed for both retrofit and newbuild applications across diverse vessel types, including tankers, bulk carriers, Ro-Ros, cruise vessels, ferries and gas carriers. By generating additional thrust from wind power, eSAILs® reduce engine loads and fuel consumption, cutting vessel operating costs (with double digit savings) and CO₂ emissions. This greatly improves regulatory performance under frameworks such as FuelEU Maritime, CII and EU ETS. Forward-thinking shipowners The system’s proven efficiency has made bound4blue a preferred partner for forward-thinking shipowners, with installations completed or contracted for companies including Maersk Tankers, Eastern Pacific Shipping, Odfjell, Amasus, Marflet Marine, Klaveness Combination Carriers and BW Epic Kosan. The new production facilities and partnerships in Asia add to the company’s established European manufacturing and supply network, positioning bound4blue to lead the global maritime ‘wind revolution’. More sustainable operations Arrebola concludes: “Our goal has always been to make wind propulsion a practical, accessible solution for every shipowner. By building on our established production capability in Europe and combining it with Asia’s industrial strength, we are expanding our capacity to meet growing global demand and helping shipping take a decisive step toward cleaner, smarter and more sustainable operations.” Come and meet bound4blue at Marintec China 2025, 2 – 5 December, Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Hall N3, Stand N3D4A

More than almost any trend, decarbonisation is driving the future of maritime. That reality alone makes decarbonisation the perfect topic for our first-ever Expert Panel Roundtable column. Traditional maritime fuels, like heavy fuel oil, release harmful pollutants that contribute to air pollution and have adverse health effects. We have to do better, and discussions in the maritime industry centre on which combination of alternative fuels and other technologies can solve the shorter- and longer-term challenges of decarbonisation. For an update on the various approaches, we asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the latest maritime technology trends in decarbonisation?