Spain’s Marflet to retrofit sail propulsion system on chemical tanker Santiago I
How Marflet’s chemical tanker Santiago I will look after her four new eSAILs are fitted in mid-2025 (Source: bound4blue)
Spain’s Marflet Marine has become the country’s first shipowner to favour the auxiliary sail propulsion market, with its decision to retrofit its 49,999dwt, 2022-built managed chemical tanker Santiago I with four 22m high eSAILs, designed and developed by Barcelona-based bound4blue.
Work on this vessel, owned by the Forzina Shipping Co Ltd, will be undertaken in mid-2025.
The suction sail design works by dragging air across an aerodynamic surface to generate propulsive power.
The unique eSAIL system is simple, robust, and highly efficient and requires zero operational input from the ship’s crew.
Santiago I operates worldwide and the fitting of the four eSAILs will be undertaken by Spanish engineering specialist Cotenaval, including designing the sail foundations and electrical installation.
Depending on vessel routing and operations, and according to detailed modelling, Santiago I is expected to save 10-15 % in annual energy consumption with the use of the eSAILs.
