Juice carrier Atlantic Orchard fitted with suction sails

The installation of what is claimed to be the world’s largest suction sails to date has been completed on 180-m Atlantic Orchard, chartered by Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) and owned by Sweden’s Wisby Tankers AB.

The four 26-m eSAILs, developed by Spain-based bound4blue, were installed during a scheduled 10-year survey at Astander Shipyard in Santander.

The 2014-built vessel was converted from dry bulk in 2020 into a juice carrier and will benefit from reduced fuel consumption and emissions, with projected savings of approximately 10% depending on its trading pattern.

These efficiencies contribute towards compliance with FuelEU Maritime and other regulations, including the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).

The installation was completed with all four units fitted in a single yard stop with each sail positioned where deck cranes were formerly located. The process included structural reinforcement, electrical work and full system programming.

According to bound4blue, the entire operation was carried out in a streamlined manner.

“eSAILs offer a simple and economically beneficial route to reducing emissions across a wide range of vessel types, including this specialised segment,” said bound4blue chief executive and cofounder José Miguel Bermúdez.

He noted the importance of yard co-ordination, stating the installation was completed “in one co-ordinated yard visit,” involving all aspects of preparation and integration.

The adoption of wind propulsion on Atlantic Orchard follows a detailed technology assessment undertaken by LDC’s decarbonisation team. Third-party input from Lloyd’s Register provided technical validation of available options, culminating in the selection of bound4blue’s autonomous suction sail system in late 2023.

Commenting on the project, LDC global head of freight Sébastien Landerretche stated it reflects the company’s broader goals for maritime decarbonisation.

“This marks a first step on a voyage that builds on our long shipping heritage,” he said, adding that operational feedback would be shared following the vessel’s first Brazil-Europe crossing with the system in use.

This is the third vessel installation completed by bound4blue in 2025, and part of a growing orderbook that now includes shipping companies such as Eastern Pacific Shipping, Maersk Tankers, Marflet Marine and Klaveness Combination Carriers.

The company reports a typical payback period of under five years for its technology, which can be applied to both newbuilds and retrofits.