A new 83,000 dwt combination carrier being built in China for Klaveness Combination Carriers (KCC) has been fitted with two locally produced bound4blue suction sails ahead of its expected delivery in the coming weeks.
The vessel, mv Baltazar, is under construction at New Yangzi Shipbuilding and is the third ship in KCC’s CABU III class, which is designed for transporting both wet and dry cargoes in Australia’s bulk trades.
The installation includes two 24-metre suction sails, produced locally in China for the first time. It is also one of the first such installations on board a combination carrier.
Klaveness said the project forms part of its wider sustainability strategy, with the company targeting a carbon emissions reduction of up to 40% compared with conventional vessels.
José Miguel Bermúdez, chief executive and co-founder of bound4blue, described the project as an important milestone on several levels. He said it shows how ships that are already efficient can be further optimised using freely available wind power, generating environmental, commercial and regulatory benefits.
He also noted that bound4blue is expanding its capabilities in China and beyond in order to support more operators seeking to adopt wind-assisted propulsion in a practical and efficient way.
The company’s eSAIL portfolio has grown rapidly, with recent installations also carried out on vessels owned by Louis Dreyfus, Eastern Pacific, Odfjell, Maersk Tankers, Marflet Marine and BW Epic Kosan.
The opening of a manufacturing facility in China is expected to further support that expansion by making locally produced sails available at a lower cost.
