Klaveness Combination Carriers ASA (KCC) will be equipping its latest CABU III newbuild with the large suction sails, made by bound4blue.
KCC, through a subsidiary, has sealed a deal with the builder of the CABU III newbuildings, Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding and Jiangsu Yangzi Xinfu Shipbuilding to install its first ever wind assisted propulsion system (WAPS), with two bound4blue eSAILs® suction sails on the third CABU III newbuilding, slated for delivery in Q3 2026.
The newbuild will be one of the first tanker/dry bulk vessels to feature bound4blue’s cutting-edge WAPS technology, while the two installed units will also rank as the largest ever suction sails, standing at 24 meters in height.
According to bound4blue, the two eSAILs® will be fitted at the bow of the vessel to enable efficient port operations.
The installation marks bound4blue’s first newbuild project in China, bound4blue said, and the first installation of its model 3 solution.
“This is a landmark contract for us in many respects, becoming not only the largest eSAIL® the world has seen, but also our first newbuild project in China,” said David Ferrer, co-founder and CTO, bound4blue.
As reported, eSAILs® are available in three model sizes, starting from 12m and ranging up to 36m in height. KCC will be the first shipowner to install the largest unit, the model 3.
The installation of eSAILs® is a part of KCC’s environmental ambition to cut the carbon intensity of its fleet by more than 45% compared to 2018 by the end of this decade.
KCC claims that it has to date committed $32m in 15 different energy efficiency measures, which in total are expected to cut fuel consumption and carbon emissions by 15% on its modern fleet built after 2015.
Engebret Dahm, CEO of Klaveness Combination Carriers, said: “We, at KCC, are excited to partner up with bound4blue on its journey of exploring and utilizing innovative wind assisted propulsion solutions on our fleet.”
KCC owns and operates eight CABU and eight CLEANBU combination carriers with three CABU vessels under construction for delivery in 2026.
