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• 2 min de lectura
The company bound4blue has completed the installation of four 22-meter eSAIL suction sails aboard the Santiago I, owned by Marflet Marine, positioning the company as the first shipowner in the Spanish merchant fleet to opt for wind-assisted propulsion and suction sails.
The installation, completed at EDR Antwerp Shipyard after "wind ready" preparation work carried out at IMC Shipyard in Zhoushan, China, makes the 49,999 DWT chemical tanker a benchmark for Spanish maritime innovation. Engineering support for the project was provided by Cotenaval.
Signed in May 2024, the original contract represented a significant milestone for both companies. Now in operation, the Santiago I is expected to reduce its annual energy consumption by approximately 10% to 15%, depending on its navigation patterns and weather conditions. Along with lower fuel consumption and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, the installation will decrease exposure to carbon-related costs under the EU ETS framework and contribute to compliance with FuelEU Maritime.
José Miguel Bermúdez, CEO and co-founder of bound4blue, stated that "seeing the Santiago I enter service with our eSAIL technology on board is an especially important moment for us. It brings together two Spanish companies committed to demonstrating that innovation developed in our country can help shape the future of international maritime transport."
"Marflet Marine demonstrated true leadership by becoming the first shipowner in the Spanish merchant fleet to adopt wind-assisted propulsion in 2024. Today, that vision has become a reality. It is another example of how practical and scalable technologies allow shipowners to improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and strengthen their competitiveness without fundamentally modifying how their vessels operate," he added.
