Wind assisted propulsion systems (WAPS) developer bound4blue has expanded its industrial footprint in Asia with the establishment of new production capabilities in China, alongside the signing of strategic regional partnerships to accelerate adoption of its eSail suction sail technology.
The expansion marks a major step in the Spanish company’s global growth strategy, positioning bound4blue closer to key shipbuilding and retrofitting hubs. This allows bound4blue to manufacture near the yards where the systems will be integrated, both for newbuildings and for vessels calling in Asia for retrofit, ultimately helping shipowners achieve measurable reductions in fuel consumption and emissions.
Production in China will be handled through a network of outsourced industrial partners with strong naval and offshore manufacturing capabilities. The facilities – strategically located around Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta – are certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards, use APQP4wind tools and are regularly evaluated by major classification societies including DNV, BV or Lloyd’s Register.
The partners’ combined capacity supports the production of up to 100 eSail units annually from 2026, with the potential for significant expansion through the allocation of additional space and inclusion of secondary facilities. By localising production, bound4blue will reduce lead times for its Model 2 and Model 3 eSails, while improving logistics efficiency for projects throughout Asia. The proximity to key shipyards in China, South Korea and Japan streamlines installations, bringing the company closer to both its customers and the world’s most active newbuilding hubs.
The company has announced a series of partnerships with manufacturing suppliers in China. These include a specialist in heavy-marine and port-handling equipment with deep expertise in offshore vessels, ship-loaders and heavy steel structures; a leading global structure provider; and a trusted global provider of lifting and material-handling systems with a proven record in safety-critical environments and advanced engineering. The collaborations will initially focus on manufacturing and logistics, with plans to extend into after-sales service and technical support as more fleets operating in the region adopt bound4blue’s technology.
Combined with bound4blue’s engineering team in Europe, these partnerships further strengthen the company’s presence in Asia’s maritime supply chain, reinforcing its ability to deliver complete, end-to-end solutions locally.
With China accounting for the majority of global shipbuilding output, the region is a critical location for scaling wind propulsion. Newbuilding integration opportunities and retrofit demand are growing in tandem with the country’s commitment to its ‘dual carbon’ goals, which aim to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve neutrality by 2060.
Juan José Arrebola, COO, bound4blue, said: “China is central to the future of maritime decarbonisation. It’s where a large share of the world’s new vessels are designed and built, and where shipowners are looking for proven, practical technologies to meet fuel and emission targets. By expanding our production network and partnerships here, we’re ensuring that our suction sails can be delivered faster, at greater scale and with the same quality standards that have defined our European operations from day one. This is about more than manufacturing. It’s about proximity, collaboration and trust. Working alongside leading Chinese partners allows us to respond faster to customer needs, simplify project logistics and contribute directly to the region’s and the global industry’s ambitious sustainability goals.”
bound4blue’s eSail uses fans to draw air across an aerodynamically optimised surface, creating lift estimated at up to seven times greater than that of a conventional rigid sail of the same size. The system is fully autonomous, mechanically simple and designed for both retrofit and newbuild applications across diverse vessel types, including tankers, bulk carriers, ro-ros, cruise vessels, ferries and gas carriers.
By generating additional thrust from wind power, eSails are said to reduce engine loads and fuel consumption, cutting vessel operating costs (with double digit savings) and CO₂ emissions. This improves regulatory performance under frameworks such as FuelEU Maritime, CII and EU ETS. Installations have been completed or contracted for companies including Maersk Tankers, Eastern Pacific Shipping, Odfjell, Amasus, Marflet Marine, Klaveness Combination Carriers and BW Epic Kosan.
The new production facilities and partnerships in Asia add to the company’s established European manufacturing and supply network.
Arrebola concluded: “Our goal has always been to make wind propulsion a practical, accessible solution for every shipowner. By building on our established production capability in Europe and combining it with Asia’s industrial strength, we are expanding our capacity to meet growing global demand and helping shipping take a decisive step toward cleaner, smarter and more sustainable operations.”
Image: Shipowners worldwide are turning to bound4blue to help harness the power of wind (source: bound4blue)
