The fast installation process involved minimal downtime for the vessel. It departed Saint Nazaire in France on its maiden voyage with the eSAILs® on 3 March and is set to arrive in Mobile approximately two weeks later.  

The installation of the eSAILs®, developed by bound4blue, contributes to Airbus’ target to halve CO2 emissions from its maritime logistics operations by 2030, versus a 2015 baseline. Moreover, wind-assisted propulsion is a key decarbonization solution LDA believes can help the company reach its goal to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.

“The VILLE DE BORDEAUX installation takes us one step closer to that goal. The sails look fantastic, and we look forward to seeing them in action. Along with our client Airbus we’re proud to be among the first movers in this space,” said Mathieu Muzeau, Transport & Logistic General Manager at LDA. 

CTO of bound4blue, David Ferrer, added: “This installation is our fourth ship project and the first of a fixed suction sail on a ro-ro vessel. It proves that suction sails can be fitted on ships with a high weather deck and large windage area meeting all required stability criteria. We’re very grateful to LDA for their commitment to the project and for choosing the eSAILs® as a proven and affordable energy-saving solution.”

Each eSAIL® is claimed to generate six to seven times more lift than a conventional sail thanks to an electric-powered air suction system that helps the airflow to re-adhere to the sail. All this force allows for the reduction of the load on the ship’s main engines.

© Shippax