bound4blue to manufacture eSAILS in China

bound4blue looks to boost regional uptake of eSAILs with outsourced production capabilities and new partners in China

bound4blue, a global leader in wind propulsion systems, has expanded its industrial footprint in Asia with new production capabilities in China and strategic regional partnerships to accelerate the adoption of its eSAIL suction sail technology.

The move marks a major step in the company’s global growth strategy, positioning bound4blue closer to key shipbuilding and retrofitting hubs. Manufacturing near the yards where systems will be integrated — for both new builds and retrofits — will help shipowners achieve measurable reductions in fuel consumption and emissions.

Production in China will be handled through a network of outsourced industrial partners with strong naval and offshore manufacturing capabilities. Facilities around Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta are certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards, use APQP4wind tools and are regularly evaluated by major classification societies including DNV, BV and Lloyd’s Register. Combined capacity supports the production of up to 100 eSAIL units annually from 2026, with scope for expansion through additional space and secondary facilities.

Pictured right: leading shipowners worldwide are turning to bound4blue to help them harness the power of wind

By localising production, bound4blue will reduce lead times for its Model 2 and Model 3 eSAILs, while improving logistics efficiency for projects throughout Asia. Proximity to key shipyards in China, South Korea and Japan will streamline installations and bring the company closer to the world’s most active shipbuilding hubs.

In addition, bound4blue has announced partnerships with leading Chinese manufacturing suppliers, including a specialist in heavy-marine and port-handling equipment, a global structure provider and a trusted supplier of lifting and material-handling systems. These collaborations will initially focus on manufacturing and logistics, with plans to extend into after-sales service and technical support as regional adoption grows.

China is central to the future
Juan José Arrebola, COO of bound4blue, said: “China is central to the future of maritime decarbonisation. It is 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 are 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.

“This is about more than manufacturing. It is about proximity, collaboration and trust. Working alongside leading Chinese partners allows us to respond faster to customer needs, simplify project logistics and contribute directly to the region’s and the global industry’s ambitious sustainability goals.”

Pictured left: bound4blue's suction sails are easy to install, mechanically simple, and operate autonomously

bound4blue’s eSAIL is an advanced suction sail system that uses fans to draw air across an aerodynamically optimised surface, creating lift up to seven-times greater than that of a conventional rigid sail of the same size. Fully autonomous and mechanically simple, the system is designed for both retrofit and newbuild applications across diverse vessel types, including tankers, bulk carriers, Ro-Ros, cruise vessels, ferries and gas carriers.

By generating additional thrust from wind power, eSAILs reduce engine loads and fuel consumption, cutting operating costs and CO₂ emissions. This improves compliance with regulations such as FuelEU Maritime, CII and EU ETS. Installations have already been completed or contracted for shipowners including Maersk Tankers, Eastern Pacific Shipping, Odfjell, Amasus, Marflet Marine, Klaveness Combination Carriers and BW Epic Kosan. The new production facilities and partnerships in Asia complement bound4blue’s established European network, positioning the company to lead the global maritime wind propulsion revolution.

Mr Arrebola concluded: “Our goal has always been to make wind propulsion a practical, accessible solution for every ship owner. By building on our established production capability in Europe and combining it with Asia’s industrial strength, we are expanding our capacity to meet growing global demand and helping shipping take a decisive step toward cleaner, smarter and more sustainable operations.”