Odfjell selects bound4blue eSAILs for second chemical tanker Bow Optima
bound4blue has signed a repeat order with Odfjell, the leading deep-sea chemical tanker owner and operator, for the installation of eSAILs® on the 49,000 dwt chemical tanker Bow Optima. The retrofit, scheduled to take place in China in Q2 2027, follows the installation of bound4blue’s suction sails on sister vessel Bow Olympus (pictured) in March 2025, reflecting Odfjell’s confidence in the technology as part of its fleet decarbonisation strategy.
Bow Optima operates in Odfjell’s round-the-world trade, supporting the safe and efficient transportation of liquids and chemicals for the company’s global customer base. The vessel has already been made wind-ready during a scheduled drydocking, with the installation of eSAIL® foundations, cabling and related deck ancillaries. The four 22m tall suction sails will be fitted to these foundations following delivery from bound4blue’s production facilities in China.
The new order builds on operational experience from Bow Olympus, where Odfjell has reported strong early performance from the vessel’s existing eSAIL® installation. According to Odfjell, Bow Olympus observed a 15-20% energy-saving effect in good, but not perfect, wind conditions, equivalent to approximately five tonnes of fuel saved per day and around 15 tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided per day. Odfjell has also reported fuel consumption reductions of up to 40% during operation.
The contract is Odfjell’s first repeat order with bound4blue and supports the company’s broader programme of deploying energy-saving technology across its fleet. Over the last decade, Odfjell has installed more than 140 energy-saving devices on its vessels, reducing carbon intensity by more than 53% compared with the International Maritime Organization’s 2008 baseline. The company is targeting a further improvement to 57% by 2030.
“Odfjell has taken a practical, data-led approach to vessel efficiency over many years, and Bow Olympus has given us valuable operational experience with wind-assisted propulsion in deep-sea chemical tanker trades,” says 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.”
Separately, bound4blue reported it has completed the installation of four 22-metre eSAIL® suction sails onboard Marflet Marine’s Santiago I, positioning the company as the first Spanish merchant fleet owner to commit to wind-assisted propulsion and suction sails.
bound4blue’s eSAIL® is a fully automated suction sail technology that uses an aerodynamically optimised structure and active airflow control to generate additional propulsive force from wind. This allows the vessel to reduce engine load under suitable operating conditions, lowering fuel consumption and associated emissions. The system is designed to operate autonomously, minimising additional workload for crew, and can be integrated into both retrofit and newbuild projects.
Bound4blue has also received a Design Assessment from Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore for its flagship Model 3-24 eSAIL®, developed to maximise the contribution of wind propulsion on larger vessels. Presented during a handover ceremony at SMM 2026 in Hamburg, the assessment confirms that the design has been independently reviewed against Bureau Veritas' technical requirements, providing further confidence for shipowners looking to deploy proven, scalable wind propulsion solutions.