Odfjell is moving ahead with a second wind-propulsion project with bound4blue, following the operational experience gained from its first installation aboard the chemical tanker Bow Olympus.
The Norwegian shipowner has placed a repeat order with the wind-propulsion specialist for four suction sails to be installed on Bow Optima, a sister vessel of Bow Olympus. The first vessel was fitted with four eSails last year.
The decision comes despite reliability issues and periods of downtime experienced by Bow Olympus. According to the two companies, those challenges were addressed jointly and provided valuable operational feedback that has since contributed to improvements in the eSail design.
Speaking during a presentation at SMM this week, Odfjell Manager Projects Jan Opedal said the company had provided bound4blue with detailed and candid feedback on the system’s performance. The eSails planned for Bow Optima will incorporate revisions based directly on that experience.
Installation of the four eSails on Bow Optima is scheduled for the second quarter of next year in China. Preparatory work has already been completed, with the foundations, cabling and other deck-related equipment installed during a scheduled drydocking.
For Odfjell, the results achieved by Bow Olympus have provided sufficient evidence to justify another investment in the technology. Opedal said the vessel’s fuel savings were in line with the company’s original projections and with the business case established for the project.
The performance comparison with three sister vessels without wind-propulsion systems also showed a clear improvement. Odfjell reported that the eSails delivered energy savings of between 15% and 20% under favourable, although not perfect, wind conditions.
bound4blue CEO and co-founder José Miguel Bermúdez said the results demonstrated the potential of suction-sail technology in one of shipping’s more demanding operating environments.
“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,” Bermúdez said.
Opedal acknowledged, with some humour, that Odfjell may at times have been a particularly demanding customer. However, he said the company’s detailed feedback had ultimately helped bound4blue develop a more robust and improved product for future installations.
The experience has also reinforced Odfjell’s broader interest in wind-assisted propulsion as part of its efforts to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
“Bow Olympus has given us valuable operational experience with wind-assisted propulsion in deep-sea chemical tanker trades,” said 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.”
The new project will add to bound4blue’s growing fleet presence. The company currently has eSail systems installed on 13 ships, with a further five vessels covered by its orderbook. In total, those projects represent more than 50 eSails.
