Odfjell Reorders Bound4blue Wind Sails for Chemical Tanker

Second Chemical Tanker to Get Suction Sails

Shipping company Odfjell has placed a repeat order with wind propulsion technology firm Bound4blue for wind-assisted propulsion systems, according to a report by Ship & Bunker. The new order covers four 22-metre eSAIL suction sails to be fitted on the 49,000-dwt chemical tanker Bow Optima, with installation planned in China during the second quarter of 2027.

The order follows Bound4blue’s earlier installation of suction sails aboard Bow Optima’s sister ship, Bow Olympus, in March 2025. According to Odfjell, that vessel has recorded energy savings of 15-20% in favorable wind conditions, translating to roughly 5 tonnes of bunker fuel saved per day and about 15 tonnes of avoided CO2 emissions daily.

Retrofit Already Underway

Bow Optima has reportedly already been prepared for the upcoming retrofit. Foundations, cabling, and related deck equipment were installed during a scheduled drydocking, ahead of the sail installation itself.

Bound4blue described the repeat order as a sign of Odfjell’s confidence in the technology, noting that it is Odfjell’s first repeat order with the company.

Fleet-Wide Efficiency Push

Odfjell has installed more than 140 energy-saving devices across its fleet over the past decade, according to the company, and says this has helped cut its carbon intensity by more than 53% against the IMO’s 2008 baseline.

For Bound4blue, the deal adds to a growing order book. The company has now deployed eSAIL systems on 13 ships, with five additional installations pending.

Apeks view — A repeat order is a more credible signal than a launch announcement — it means the reported 15-20% savings held up in operation, not just on paper. For owners weighing wind-assist retrofits, the useful data point here isn’t the technology itself but the willingness to commit capital twice on the same sister-ship class. Verifying those fuel and emissions figures against voyage records remains the operator’s job, not the vendor’s claim.