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.”
