Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC), a leading global merchant and processor of agricultural goods, has chosen bound4blue’s technology to install four 26-meter-high eSAILs on its chartered juice vessel in 2024. LDC and bound4blue recently announced an agreement for the manufacture and installation of the eSAILs on LDC’s MV Atlantic Orchard.
This project is also in collaboration with Wisby Tankers AB, Sweden.
Bound4blue currently holds the record for the most giant suction sails ever constructed and installed on board a ship.
“Reflecting LDC’s commitment to help shape a low-carbon economy, we are actively contributing to the global shipping industry energy transition journey, in line with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) target to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from the sector by 2050. We are therefore very pleased to partner with two key maritime industry players, bound4blue and Wisby Tankers, to install this advanced sail technology aboard our chartered juice carrier,” said Sébastien Landerretche, LDC’s global head of freight.
Founded in 1851, LDC leverages its global reach and extensive asset network to serve its customers and consumers worldwide, delivering the right products to the correct location at the right time—safely, reliably, and responsibly. The company’s activities span the entire value chain, from farm to fork, across various business lines (platforms): Carbon solutions, coffee, cotton, food and feed solutions, freight, global markets, grains and oilseeds, juice, rice, and sugar. It also helps feed and clothe some 500 million people annually by originating, processing, and transporting approximately 80 million tons of products. LDC is active in over 100 countries across six geographical regions and employs about 17,000 people globally.
Chartered by LDC and owned by Wisby Tankers, MV Atlantic Orchard will be retrofitted with the four eSAILs this year and, depending on vessel routing, is expected to reduce annual fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by at least 10%. The decision to implement this technology was based on a third-party assessment study by Lloyd’s Register, which evaluated a range of solutions and identified bound4blue’s suction sails as the most promising.
Being one of the critical actors in the advancement and execution of maritime decarbonization solutions, bound4blue developed its cutting-edge eSAIL system based on wind-assisted propulsion technology known as a suction sail. By harnessing wind power to propel vessels, this technology substantially reduces fuel consumption and pollutant emissions. The eSAIL system leverages a thick aerodynamic profile and intelligent suction mechanisms to enhance propulsive efficiency, yielding seven times more lift than an airplane wing.
“We’re pleased to announce our agreement with LDC to implement our eSAIL system, demonstrating bound4blue’s ability to serve unique vessel types and affirming the maturity of our technology as a proven solution for fuel and emission reduction. LDC is at the forefront of adopting proven clean technologies to reduce carbon emissions in its fleet, and we are delighted to support them in their endeavor,” said José Miguel Bermúdez, bound4blue CEO.
Bound4blue develops automated wind-assisted propulsion systems as a turnkey solution for all shipowners and shipping companies seeking to reduce fuel costs and polluting emissions. Its eSAIL system is a validated solution for saving fuel and emissions, completely autonomous, with low maintenance and easy installation onboard, being the most cost-efficient wind propulsion technology today. It’s suitable for tankers, bulkers, Ro-Ros, cruises, ferries, gas carriers, and general cargo vessels, regardless of size or age.
The company, founded in 2014 with a vocation focused on the renewable energy sector in the maritime field, has its headquarters in Cantabria (Spain) and offices in Barcelona and Singapore. The company has installed its eSAIL system on three ships. It has signed additional agreements with other shipowners like Marubeni Corp, Odfjell, and Louis Dreyfus Armateurs to install the system in their fleets. (Story and photo by LDC)