Port of Hamburg prepares to host wind-powered Eems Traveller

A cargo vessel featuring a wind assisted propulsion system (WAPS) will dock at the Port of Hamburg on September 3-4, 2024, showcasing its 17-meter-high suction sails from Spanish company bound4blue.

The ship, Eems Traveller, will arrive on the occasion of SMM, an important maritime industry event to be held from September 3 to 6. This year’s SMM is said to be the ‘first major maritime event’ to host a vessel equipped with WAPS.

The Dutch-flagged, Amasus-owned general cargo ship will showcase its two eSAILs, demonstrating how wind can help an industry in transition to cut costs, emissions, and comply with increasingly stringent regulations.

As Offshore Energy earlier reported, the solution was installed in two phases, with the sail foundations fitted during a scheduled vessel stop in the Netherlands for a five-year class renewal survey, before the sails themselves were installed – in just four hours – at the Port of Bilbao.

Specifically, the bound4blue’s technology works by dragging air across an aerodynamic surface to generate exceptional propulsive efficiency, with zero operational input from crew. This is said to reduce fuel use, OPEX and emissions to air.

“The ‘Eems Traveller’ is a landmark vessel. The twin sails installed in July 2023 were, at the time, the largest ever suction sails seen in maritime. Operations to date have delivered a wealth of in-depth data to demonstrate their tangible environmental impact. We look forward to sharing our findings at SMM. In addition to our own testing and validation, Lloyd’s Register has now also been tasked with conducting a third-party evaluation to verify achieved performance and savings,” David Ferrer, co-founder and CTO, bound4blue, commented.

“We’re indebted to Amasus, and the sustainability focus of Port of Hamburg, for the opportunity to showcase the power of wind with more than just words – giving the industry a chance to experience the technology and learn about its transformative effect. Given the impact of regulations such as EU ETS, CII and the upcoming FuelEU Maritime move, I can’t think of a better time to push wind power up the shipping agenda.”

“The industry is continually discussing which pathway offers the best route to decarbonisation. Here at Amasus we believe there is no one course, but rather a range of routes to travel upon, combining breakthrough and emerging technologies to make positive impacts today. In this regard, we see wind as a key enabler for a greener shipping future. The ‘Eems Traveller’ is a manifestation of that belief, showing how owners can partner with trusted suppliers to deliver meaningful gains – and not just from environmental and regulatory perspectives, but also commercially,” Amasus said.

Recent eSAIL agreements have been reached with major names such as Eastern Pacific Shipping, Louis Dreyfus Company and Odfjell, with installations scheduled in the coming months.