The eSails, which capture wind energy to generate thrust, could also generate carbon dioxide (CO2) savings of up to 1,800 tonnes ever year.
The eSail – developed by Spain-based firm Bound4blue – is said to create as much as six to seven times more lift than a conventional rigid sail. It consists of a sail-like vertical surface and an electric-powered air suction system that helps the airflow to re-adhere to the sail, generating additional lift and thereby reducing the load on the ship’s main engines.
The three 22-metre-high eSails will be fitted to the Ville de Bordeaux ahead of a six-month performance monitoring period starting early 2024. The Ville de Bordeaux regularly ferries A320 Family subassemblies from Europe to Mobile in the United States for final assembly.
The move supports Airbus’s commitment halve CO2 emissions from its maritime operations by 2030, compared to a 2015 baseline.
The installation of eSails on the Ville de Bordeaux is co-funded by the European Union.
David Ferrer, chief technology officer at Bound4blue, said: “This deployment will mark the first-ever fixed suction sail installation on a Ro-Ro ship, demonstrating that suction sails can be deployed on ships with high weather deck and large windage area, not compromising the vessel’s stability.”