BW Epic Kosan (BWEK) has signed an agreement with Spanish wind propulsion specialist bound4blue to install a 24-metre-tall eSAIL® suction sail on the LPG carrier Helena Kosan. Built in 2007, the vessel will undergo the retrofit in 2026, making it the first in BWEK’s fleet to deploy autonomous wind-assisted propulsion.
The Singapore-based company, which operates the world’s largest fleet of last-mile LPG, petrochemical, and speciality gas carriers, said the system will cut fuel use, reduce emissions, and simplify compliance with tightening international regulations.
José Miguel Bermúdez, CEO and Co-founder of bound4blue, commented: “The tanker and LPG market is a key growth area for bound4blue, so it’s fantastic to agree a contract with the world leader in last-mile delivery of LPG, petrochemicals and other specialty gases. Our mechanically simple solution delivers unique benefits for the segment, with the ability to position the sail’s maintenance door far above the deck and thus entirely remove the system from hazardous areas.”
Unlike conventional rotor sails, the DNV Type Approved eSAIL® uses suction to draw air across an aerodynamic surface, generating lift up to seven times greater than rigid sails of the same size. This allows for a smaller footprint with higher propulsive efficiency, making it suitable for tankers and gas carriers where deck space is limited and hazardous area restrictions apply.
BWEK CEO Jakob Bode said the investment is part of a broader decarbonisation programme: “We have so far introduced a range of innovations including ultrasonic transducers, graphene-based propeller coatings and advanced weather routing to cut emissions and empower efficiencies, in addition to actively participating in projects to advance the adoption of green fuels such as ammonia. Wind power was identified as having potential and, after careful studies, bound4blue’s eSAIL® was selected as the system of choice.”
The installation will be carried out in two phases, with preparatory work scheduled during the vessel’s 2025 drydocking and final fitting in 2026 as a “plug and play” process.
The technology has already been adopted by Odfjell, Eastern Pacific Shipping, and Louis Dreyfus Company, with further orders placed by Maersk Tankers, Marflet Marine, and Klaveness Combination Carriers. By reducing fuel use and emissions, the system supports compliance with EU ETS, CII, and FuelEU Maritime rules, and is expected to offer a payback period of less than five years.
For BWEK, the Helena Kosan project represents a tangible next step in a strategy that blends incremental efficiency measures with longer-term bets on alternative fuels. With wind-assist technologies now gaining momentum across multiple vessel classes, the deal signals growing confidence in suction sail systems as a practical decarbonisation tool.
