bound4blue expands eSAIL production in China through regional partnerships
RanjithKumar Dharma
Mon, December 1, 2025 at 10:43 AM EST
2 min read
bound4blue, a company specialising in wind propulsion systems, has established new production capabilities in China, expanding its industrial presence in Asia.
The Spanish firm has signed agreements with Chinese manufacturing suppliers to support the adoption of its eSAIL suction sail technology.
By expanding operations into the region, bound4blue aims to supply both newbuild vessels and those undergoing retrofits more efficiently by manufacturing closer to major shipbuilding centres.
Manufacturing of eSAIL units in China will be managed through a network of industrial partners located in areas around Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta.
According to bound4blue, these facilities are certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards and apply APQP4wind tools. They are also regularly reviewed by international classification organisations such as DNV, BV and Lloyd’s Register.
Initial capacity will allow for production of up to 100 eSAIL units per year starting from 2026, with the option to scale output further through additional facility allocation.
Producing products locally is expected to reduce lead times for bound4blue’s Model 2 and Model 3 eSAILs.
The geographical proximity to key shipyards in China, South Korea, and Japan is likely to simplify logistics and installation processes for clients in those markets, said the company.
bound4blue’s strategic Chinese partners include a manufacturer with expertise in heavy-marine and port-handling equipment for offshore vessels and a global structural provider. The company has also partnered with a supplier of lifting and material-handling systems experienced in safety-critical environments.
The initial focus will be on manufacturing and logistics, with expansion into after-sales service and technical support as adoption increases, said bound4blue.
bound4blue chief operating officer Juan José Arrebola 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.”
The eSAIL system incorporates fans that draw air over an aerodynamically optimised surface to create lift greater than conventional rigid sails.
The system operates autonomously and can be fitted to a range of vessel types, including tankers, bulk carriers, Ro-Ros, cruise ships, ferries and gas carriers.
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The additional thrust generated by wind power aims to reduce engine loads and fuel consumption, thereby supporting compliance with regulatory measures such as FuelEU Maritime, CII and EU ETS.
In September this year, Lloyd’s Register validated bound4blue’s force matrix calculation methodology for its wind propulsion system.
"bound4blue expands eSAIL production in China through regional partnerships" was originally created and published by Ship Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.
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