11.1 C
Hamburg
Sunday, June 8, 2025
Home Out of the Box First cargo vessel with wind-assisted propulsion debuts at SMM

First cargo vessel with wind-assisted propulsion debuts at SMM

This year’s SMM will mark a milestone as it becomes the first major maritime event to feature a vessel equipped with an advanced Wind Assisted Propulsion System (WAPS).

The 2,850 dwt Eems Traveller, a Dutch-flagged general cargo ship owned by Amasus, will dock at Überseebrücke in Hamburg on 3 and 4 September.

The ship will showcase its two 17-meter-high eSAILs® (suction sails) from bound4blue, highlighting how wind power can help the maritime industry reduce costs and emissions, and comply with increasingly stringent regulations.

The turnkey eSAIL® solution was installed in two phases: the sail foundations were fitted during a scheduled stop in the Netherlands for the vessel’s five-year class renewal survey, and the sails themselves were installed in just four hours at Spain’s Port of Bilbao.

This autonomous technology operates by drawing air across an aerodynamic surface to generate significant propulsive efficiency, with no operational input required from the crew, leading to reduced fuel consumption, operational expenses, and emissions.

At SMM, stakeholders will have the opportunity to witness the effectiveness of this technology firsthand, as bound4blue will present operational test data aboard Eems Traveller.

Furthermore, visitors will be able to see the technology up close and learn about its operation. The vessel will serve as a platform for press conferences, visits, and engagement with shipowners, class societies, and other key decision-makers during its two-day stay. Representatives from bound4blue and the ship’s crew will be available to answer questions and discuss the potential of harnessing wind power.

David Ferrer, co-founder and CTO of bound4blue, commented, “The twin sails installed in July 2023 were, at the time, the largest ever suction sails seen in maritime. Operations to date have delivered a wealth of in-depth data to demonstrate their tangible environmental impact. We look forward to sharing our findings at SMM. In addition to our own testing and validation, Lloyd’s Register has now also been tasked with conducting a third-party evaluation to verify achieved performance and savings.”





Latest Posts

Port of Long Beach appoints new managing director of engineering services

The Port of Long Beach has appointed Suzanne Plezia, P.E., as its new Managing Director of Engineering Services, succeeding Sean Gamette, P.E., who announced...

DP World and J.P. Morgan launch partnership

DP World Trade Finance has joined forces with J.P. Morgan to enhance access to working capital across emerging markets, addressing the persistent global trade...

Red Sea shipping traffic rebounds as Houthis limit targets

Red Sea maritime traffic has increased by 60% to approximately 36–37 vessels per day since August 2024, as Reuters reported. However, it still falls short...

CMA CGM applies new surcharge from Far East to West Africa

French ocean carrier CMA CGM has announced a peak season surcharge (PSS) for shipments from Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, China and Hong Kong &...

China to counterbalance Panama setback through South America projects

As geopolitical tensions deepen and shipping lanes become politicized battlegrounds, China is recalibrating its approach to the Western Hemisphere. The recent retreat of CK Hutchison...
error: Content is protected !!