bound4blue on Wednesday (25 June) has underlined the business case for adopting eSAIL® wind propulsion technology, with the release of BVS assessed operational fuel savings on the Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) owned Ro-Ro Ville de Bordeaux.

The vessel, chartered by Airbus, had three 22-meter bound4blue suction sail units installed in 2024. BVS assessed the savings over a year, showing an average daily fuel saving of 1.7 metric tonnes (mt), with peak savings of as much as 5.4 mt per day.

These savings are consistent with bound4blue’s initial projections and with the results obtained by LDA using its own methodology, which was grounded in real-time measurements – including fuel consumption data – and incorporated actual weather conditions to ensure accuracy.

The savings reported on the vessel, which transports Airbus subassemblies from Europe to the United States, were achieved without relying on weather routing and did not account for the significant regulatory advantages of adopting wind propulsion.

David Ferrer, CTO of bound4blue, said the newly assessed results demonstrated the tangible impact of eSAILs® for an industry in transition.

“We’re thrilled to see this hard-working vessel making significant daily savings, with really exciting peak numbers that demonstrate huge potential,” Ferrer said. 

“These results showcase how existing vessels – and not just newbuilds that have been designed for energy efficiency and wind propulsion – can harness this clean, renewable and accessible power source for transformative benefits.”

“The Ville de Bordeaux is a specialised, Ro-Ro vessel, providing continuous logistics solutions for the aeronautic industry, but the eSAILs® ability to generate lift from shallow angles means the system produced compelling results day-in day-out. This has been a great project, and we’d like to thank all our partners for their support and collaboration.”

Photo credit: bound4blue
Published: 27 June, 2025

The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) on Wednesday (11 June) said a survey found 77% of shipowners and operators now consider achieving net zero a high priority in their strategy, up from 73% two years ago.

This was among the findings of the second edition of the Global Maritime Decarbonisation Survey, jointly conducted by GCMD and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) between October 2024 and February 2025.

The survey gathered 114 responses from shipowners and operators across a range of vessel types, fleet sizes, and regions. While the survey was conducted before the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) MEPC 83 session in April, its findings already reflected sustained commitment across the industry. The outcomes of MEPC 83—introducing new regulatory targets and incentives—are expected to reinforce these ambitions and further accelerate momentum.

Survey results show that 60% of respondents have now set net-zero targets (up from 54%), while the use of bio-blended fuels has more than doubled to 46%, and methanol use has increased from 3% to 6%. However, uptake of more nascent technologies—such as ammonia, wind-assisted propulsion systems, solar panels, super-light ships, and air lubrication—remains limited.

The survey also reflects the industry’s desire for policies and regulations to create a level playing field. Nearly three-quarters of respondents identified either compliance measures or financial incentives as the most important policy objectives. A level playing field will ensure that early adopters are not competitively disadvantaged on cost and stakeholders with limited resources can benefit from financial support to overcome economic barriers.

The survey also gathered insights from key bunkering ports, whose support is critical for maritime decarbonisation. Most surveyed ports have roadmaps and dedicated teams focused on initiatives to facilitate maritime decarbonisation, and all of them, namely Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Port of Long Beach, Port of New York and New Jersey, Port of Rotterdam, and Port of Singapore, offer green incentives. 

A significant concern for ports, however, is the lack of demand certainty from shipping companies for both low-carbon fuels and Onboard Carbon Capture Systems (OCCS). This ‘chicken-and-egg’ dilemma hinders ports to take on the investment decision to develop the requisite infrastructure, though the recently introduced GHG pricing mechanism is expected to strengthen demand signals for low-carbon fuels.

Dr Sanjay C Kuttan, Chief Strategy Officer of GCMD, said, “Positive developments in maritime policy, especially from the IMO, which further tighten limits on GHG emissions, along with the increased ambitions voiced by survey respondents, are encouraging signals. Greater cooperation with the ports and pertinent stakeholders across the various value chains will be required to address challenges across the broader ecosystem. With the right investments and collaborative actions, the maritime industry can chart a course to a future where sustainable decarbonisation and commercial success can co-exist.

Anand Veeraraghavan, Managing Director and Senior Partner of BCG, said, “It is encouraging to see that even in the face of global uncertainties, the maritime industry’s decarbonisation ambitions remain intact and steadfast. The recent MEPC outcomes mark a pivotal step forward, sharpening demand signals with incentives for exceeding compliance goals and penalty mechanisms for shortfalls. Now is the time for the industry—both ships and ports—to build on this momentum.

Note: The second edition of the GCMD–BCG Global Maritime Decarbonisation Survey report can be viewed here. 

Photo credit: Lukas Blazek on Unsplash
Published: 12 June, 2025

Classification society RINA on Friday (6 June) announced the Approval in Principle (AiP) of a new Ultramax bulker design developed by Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI) in collaboration with Almi Marine Management.

This milestone was achieved through a Joint Development Project (JDP) between RINA, Almi Marine, and SDARI. 

The vessel, based on SDARI’s latest-generation Green Dolphin 64 platform, is a dual-fuel LNG/hydrogen-powered Ultramax bulker, featuring hybrid propulsion and advanced energy efficiency technologies. 

“The AiP recognises the design’s pioneering integration of battery-assisted electric propulsion, wind-assisted systems, and a novel hydrogen-reforming solution that eliminates the challenges of liquid hydrogen storage and supply. To award the AiP, RINA verified that the innovative design meets the applicable safety and environmental protection standards,” RINA said on its website. 

The new concept redefines propulsion in merchant shipping. Its ultra-modern hull design increases cargo capacity while reducing fuel consumption. Hybrid-electric propulsion enhances adaptability to future innovations, and wind-assisted propulsion contributes further to energy efficiency. 

Onboard hydrogen production provides a path to decarbonisation without the technical challenges of supply and storage, thereby improving the ship’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and optimising its pathway to GHG Fuel Intensity (GFI) compliance. It also provides a fuel pathway toward net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 through the progressive transformation of LNG into hydrogen onboard.  

RINA added the design delivers the energy savings and reduced emissions needed to meet current regulatory requirements, while also offering flexibility to easily integrate future solutions.

Photo credit: RINA
Published: 9 June, 2025