Klaveness Combination Carriers ASA (KCC) has entered a landmark agreement with Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. and Jiangsu Yangzi Xinfu Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., to install its first Wind Assisted Propulsion System (WAPS) on a new CABU III vessel, set for delivery in Q3 2026.
This system will feature two bound4blue eSAILs—the largest suction sails to date at 24 meters tall—making it one of the first combined tanker/dry bulk vessels to incorporate this cutting-edge technology. The eSAILs will utilize suction-based thrust to significantly reduce fuel consumption and emissions, contributing to KCC’s decarbonization goals.
The sails, positioned at the vessel’s bow to optimize port operations, use a fan system to draw air across an aerodynamically designed surface, producing forward thrust. Available in multiple sizes up to 36 meters, these sails are a key part of KCC’s strategy to reduce the fleet’s carbon intensity by 45% from 2018 levels by the decade’s end. KCC has invested $32 million in energy efficiency initiatives across its fleet, which is already 30-40% more carbon-efficient than typical vessels.
KCC CEO Engebret Dahm emphasized the collaboration’s role in supporting industry decarbonization, while bound4blue CTO David Ferrer highlighted the agreement as a milestone for both the largest eSAIL installation and bound4blue’s first Chinese newbuild project.
This partnership aligns KCC with bound4blue’s vision of advancing wind-assisted propulsion as a sustainable shift in maritime transport.
