Following installation of eSail foundations in Poland in November 2023, the 5,200 dwt ‘Ville de Bordeaux’ (built 2004) has emerged from a short stopover in a shipyard in Vigo, Spain with its three new, 22m-high eSails in place.
The verticalisation manoeuvre and connection to the reinforcement of the suction sails was completed in less than two days.
The Ville de Bordeaux is on charter to Airbus from French shipowner Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) and used to transport A320 aircraft components from Europe for final assembly at the aircraft manufacturer’s US factory in Mobile, Alabama. The fast installation process involved minimal downtime for the vessel. It departed Saint Nazaire in France on its first voyage with the Spanish company bound4blue eSails on 3 March and is set to arrive in Mobile in about two weeks later.
Mathieu Muzeau, GM Transport and Logistic, LDA said: “The installation of the eSails, developed by the technology innovator bound4blue, contributes to Airbus’ target to halve CO2 emissions from its maritime logistics operations by 2030, versus a 2015 baseline. Moreover, wind-assisted propulsion is a key decarbonisation solution LDA believes can help the company reach its goal to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. The Ville de Bordeaux installation takes us one step closer to that goal. The sails look fantastic, and we look forward to seeing them in action. Along with our client Airbus we’re proud to be among the first movers in this space.”
David Ferrer, bound4blue CTO, added: “This installation is our fourth ship project and the first of a fixed suction sail on a ro-ro vessel. It proves that suction sails can be fitted on ships with a high weather deck and large windage area meeting all required stability criteria. We’re very grateful to LDA for their commitment to the project and for choosing the eSails as a proven and affordable energy-saving solution.”
Image: LDA’s ‘Ville de Bordeaux’ ro-ro with eSails in place (source: bound4blue)
