Maritime transport sectors are facing a double challenge: 1. New regulations that are forcing reductions in pollutant emissions, already entering into force, and stronger from 2020. 2. The increase in fuel costs (which represents 40-60% of their operation costs). This is of particular relevance when new less pollutant fuels have to be used, such as Marine Gasoil (MGO), which doubles the cost compared to the currently used Heavy Fueloil (HFO), causing a dramatic impact in fuel-related OPEX. Therefore, there is a market demand for solutions that contribute to reduce fuel use in this sector with a convenient return on investment (ROI).
Project coordinator, Bound 4 Blue SL (bound4blue) is a Spanish company developing automated wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS) to reduce fuel consumption and emissions of merchant vessels, which reduce up to 30% of the fuel used in maritime transport (merchant vessels, fishing vessels, passenger vessels, etc.), decreasing operating costs and the environmental impact of the maritime industry, also complying with new International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulations and the European Green Deal goals. So far, the main objectives of this project are based on: (i) scaling-up and installing bound4blue's suction-based wingsail (eSAIL) on a Ro-Ro vessel, (ii) developing a complete set of internal tools to increase company competitiveness, (iii) and improving company's industrial capabilities to be ready for large scale deployment.
The initially expected impact and short effect of the project was based on having the first installation on a Ro-Ro vessel of this new type of suction sail, and on the short and medium term this means attracting further investment and targeting new customers. Long-term effects, with the implementation of the suction sail in many vessels in Europe and at worldwide level will be, from the business side, the growth of the company involved in the project and the generation of hundreds of jobs in Europe, also in the shipbuilding and auxiliary sector; and, from the environmental side, the reduction in pollutants emissions, meaning a better health for our citizens and the environment.
