Maersk Tankers is planning to install wind-propulsion systems on five vessels over the next two years, which the company says will reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions for those ships by double-digit percentages.
Each vessel will be equipped with four of bound4blue’s so-called “eSAILs,” known more commonly as suction sails. The technology works by dragging air across each sail’s surface, and then through small perforations to generate lift and propulsion. Bound4blue’s eSAILs also automatically adjust to wind conditions.
“For the tanker industry to progress in the energy transition, concrete investments and actions are essential,” Maersk Tankers chief investment officer Claus Grønborg said in a November 10 release.
Maersk Tankers started using wind-assisted propulsion systems in its fleet in 2018, when it installed rotor sails on the Maersk Pelican. The company has also invested in alternative, low-emission fuel sources, including a recent long-term agreement with LONGi Green Energy Technology to source bio-methanol. A.P. Moller-Maersk — Maersk Tankers’ ocean carrier parent company — has a goal to transition its fleet to net zero emissions by 2040.
