bound4blue has today received a DNV validation of its ‘wind propulsion system force matrix’ calculation method. This validation provides a trusted, regulation-ready tool to evaluate the performance of the suction sail technology.
The validation gives the industry a reliable tool to easily calculate the benefits of the eSAIL® suction sail technology without the need for full-scale testing. As such, it can save time and money by providing a clear forecast of the fuel savings, emissions reductions, return on investment, and regulatory benefits for individual vessels.
The validated methodology allows accurate estimation of the thrust generated by eSAILs® across a wide range of operational scenarios. The DNV validation of the methodology indicates that the results have been produced with a tool that is fully aligned with international Rules and Standards and can now be used directly in calculations for key regulatory frameworks, including EEDI, EEXI, and FuelEU Maritime.
The DNV team hosted the presentation of the validation today at Nor-Shipping 2025:
From left: Elisabeth Drægebø – Head of Section Business Development at DNV, Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria – Chief Operating Officer, DNV Maritime, Jan Opedal – Manager Projects, Odfjell, David Ferrer – CTO, bound4blue, and Frode Eriksen – Key Account Manager, DNV. Photo by Bård Gudim.
“The validation not only confirms the accuracy of our performance assessments, but also ensures they are immediately applicable for compliance with today’s most important environmental regulations. It simplifies decision-making for stakeholders and removes uncertainty when evaluating wind-assisted propulsion,” said David Ferrer, Chief Technical Officer and Co-founder at bound4blue.
Trusted, accurate, easy
bound4blue’s force matrix approach quantifies the thrust generated by eSAILs® under a full spectrum of wind and sailing conditions. Validation by DNV demonstrates that the calculation methodology is trusted and accurate. The validation also reinforces trust among owners who are already adopting eSAIL® technology. Jan Opedal, Manager Projects at Odfjell says:
“Having a certified methodology behind the performance numbers is essential. With DNV’s validation, we know that the values reported from the installation of eSAILs® on the Bow Olympus can be confidently used for regulatory purposes. This supports decision-making and makes it easier to assess the effect of eSAILs through an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.”
Bow Olympus in Houston. Photo by Robert Land Productions.
“As the decarbonization timeline becomes clearer and regulatory pressure intensifies, we need to ensure that our stakeholders can make confident decisions when adopting energy-enhancing technologies. Performance benefit claims should be credible, comparable, and transparent, to accelerate the uptake of greener technologies,” Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, Chief Operating Officer, DNV Maritime, says.
“At DNV we want to make sure that when shipping companies invest in greater sustainability, they can be sure they are making a difference to both their competitiveness and to the environment. That’s why we are pleased to work with technology suppliers like bound4blue who are committed to transparency and independent validation to robust technical standards.”
Regulatory rewards
Wind propulsion solutions, such as suction sails, are becoming increasingly attractive since the advent of the FuelEU Maritime regulation. Wind is the only power source actively rewarded through the framework, with the Wind Reward Factor effectively relaxing compliance targets for relevant vessels by up to 5%. eSAILs® also create energy efficiency benefits for EEDI and EEXI, reduce emissions and costs relating to EU ETS, and positively impact CII ratings.
Read more about the suction sail installation and results on Bow Olympus below.
