Spanish wind propulsion company bound4blue has issued a new paper, highlighting the advantages that wind assisted propulsion systems (WAPS) deliver across all key efficiency regulations, unlocking CII benefits as well as FuelEU gains.
The case study focuses on the chemical tanker Bow Olympus, and showcases the real-world regulatory impact of the company’s eSail technology on CII ratings.
With bound4blue’s DNV Type Approved eSails onboard, vessels can take advantage of proven, available and completely zero emission wind propulsion to reduce fuel consumption, emissions and operating costs, potentially achieving double digit percentage savings.
Bow Olympus is a 30,488gt chemical tanker, operated by Odfjell and constructed in 2019. The liquid bulk chemical transporter is being been fitted with four 22m eSails.
The bound4blue team used detailed historical data (from 2023) of the vessel’s routes, operational experience, wind and other weather and ocean conditions, feeding the information into an advanced simulation and modelling approach. When combined with proprietary aerodynamic modelling of the planned eSails this unlocked understanding of how the vessel would perform following the installation, and the effect on CII.
Based on the Bow Olympus’ effective days at sea in 2023, bound4blue’s simulation showed a forecasted potential reduction of about 1,616t CO2e per annum with the four planned eSails. Furthermore, if advanced weather routing is introduced the suction sail technology could enable an average increase in CO2 reductions of up to 80% (c 2,908t CO2e).
Comparing how the vessel would perform over the coming years with and without the planned retrofit, with a 3% annual reduction in CII limits from 2027 onwards, suggested that with the eSails Bow Olympus would achieve a B rating up to, and including, 2026, with a C rating afterwards. Without, operations from 2024 to 2028 would all be rated C, falling to a D in 2029 and 2030. These forecasts were made without the introduction of weather routing, which can augment eSail impact.
Simone Saettone, Vessel Performance Manager, bound4blue, said: “eSails drastically reduce fuel consumption and emissions, unlocking both commercial and environmental benefits. In doing so they open up a practical, cost-effective pathway to compliance with a new generation of maritime regulations. This is important today and absolutely essential tomorrow, as these regulations (including CII) grow increasingly stringent over time, penalising underperformers with a sliding scale of penalties. This means vessels scraping by now will not make the grade in the years ahead, leaving ‘wait and see’ shipping companies with a major compliance headache.”
The report can be downloaded here.
Image: ‘Bow Olympus’ with four eSails (source: bound4blue/Odfjell)
