Lloyd’s Register signs MoU to advance wind-assisted MR tanker design

• Lloyd’s Register (LR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with K Shipbuilding, bound4blue and the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR) to jointly develop a 50,000 dwt MR tanker incorporating wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS). 
• The agreement was signed on 4 June during Posidonia in Athens. 
• The project will develop and optimise an MR tanker design with WAPS. The concept will incorporate bound4blue’s eSAIL® technology, which uses suction sail principles to harness wind energy and deliver direct thrust, helping improve efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and support compliance with tightening emissions regulations. Under the agreement, the partners will carry out technical and regulatory evaluation of the design, including assessments against the latest class rules and IMO requirements. LR will provide technical assurance, design appraisal and support the process towards Approval in Principle (AiP), while working closely with LISCR on regulatory alignment.  
• The collaboration is intended to reduce uncertainty around the adoption of WAPS in the tanker market by validating performance, safety and regulatory compliance at an early stage. By bringing together expertise across design, technology, classification and flag, the project establishes a structured pathway for future commercial deployment. 
• Alberto Pérez, Head of Maritime Commercial Markets, Lloyd’s Register: “This agreement reflects LR’s continued focus on enabling maritime decarbonisation through practical, scalable solutions. By supporting the development of next-generation tanker designs, we are helping shipowners and operators navigate the transition to lower-carbon operations while maintaining commercial viability.”  
• Tae-Hyun Koh, Chief Technology Officer, K Shipbuilding, said: “As demand for sustainable shipping solutions continues to grow, this MoU will further strengthen our capabilities in eco-friendly ship technology development and enhance our competitiveness in the global MR tanker market.”
• Daniel Mann, Chief Commercial Officer, bound4blue, said: “We’re pleased to work with K Shipbuilding, Lloyd’s Register and the Liberian Registry on this Joint Development Project. For shipyards, wind propulsion is becoming an important part of future-ready vessel design, especially in segments such as MR tankers. By bringing our experience and know-how to this Joint Development Project, we can help define how the eSAIL® system can be integrated into MR tanker newbuild designs in a safe, practical and commercially competitive way. It is a meaningful step in supporting the decarbonisation of MR tankers, while strengthening the role of practical, commercially viable technologies in the future of shipping.” 
• Thomas Klenum, Executive Vice President, Liberian Registry, said: “This project marks an important step in advancing practical decarbonisation for the tanker segment. Integrating wind-assisted propulsion on MR tankers can reduce emissions while strengthening the sustainability and competitiveness of global shipping, and thereby we are helping to unlock immediate fuel savings and emissions reductions while strengthening long-term regulatory compliance.”  

José Miguel Bermúdez, CEO of bound4blue; Gwan-Ho Song, Senior Managing Director and CMO of K Shipbuilding; and Joe Borg, Maritime Strategy Director, Lloyd’s Register.

Notes to editors:  

About Lloyd’s Register      

Trusted maritime and energy sector advisors, partnering with clients to drive performance across the ocean economy.   

Lloyd’s Register (LR) is a global professional services group specialising in marine and offshore engineering, technology and digital solutions. We were created more than 260 years ago as the world’s first marine classification society to improve and set standards for the safety of ships.   

Today we are a leading provider of classification and compliance services to the marine and offshore industries, helping our clients design, construct and operate their assets to accepted levels of safety and environmental compliance.   

We also provide advisory services and digital solutions, supporting fleet and voyage performance and optimisation.  Through OneOcean, LR delivers integrated digital solutions supporting voyage planning, optimisation, compliance, training and fleet performance across more than 30,000 vessels globally.  

In the race to zero emissions, our research, advisory and technical expertise and industry-firsts are supporting a safe, sustainable maritime energy transition.   

Lloyd’s Register Group is wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a politically and financially independent global charity that promotes safety and education.   

For more information, go to www.lr.org   

About K Shipbuilding  

K Shipbuilding is one of South Korea’s leading mid-sized shipbuilders with extensive experience in the design and construction of a wide range of commercial vessels, including Chemical Tankers, Oil/Product Tankers, Gas Carriers, Bunkering Vessels, Container Ships and Bulk Carriers. 

Founded in 1967 and headquartered in Changwon, Republic of Korea, K Shipbuilding has delivered more than 700 vessels worldwide. Based on its accumulated design and shipbuilding expertise, the company is dedicated to developing eco-friendly and next-generation vessel solutions. Through these innovations, K Shipbuilding strives to meet evolving industry trends and regulatory requirements, leading the transition toward a more sustainable and smarter future for the shipbuilding industry. 

For more information, visit: www.kshipbuilding.com

About bound4blue 

bound4blue develops automated wind propulsion systems as a turnkey solution for all shipowners and shipping companies seeking to reduce fuel costs and polluting emissions. bound4blue’s eSAIL® system is a validated solution for saving fuel and emissions, completely autonomous, with low maintenance and easy installation onboard, being the most cost-efficient wind propulsion technology today. It is suitable for Tankers, Bulkers, Ro-Ros, Cruise Ships, Ferries, Gas Carriers, and General Cargo vessels, regardless of their size or age.  

The company, founded in 2014 with a vocation clearly focused on the renewable energy sector in the maritime field, has its headquarters in Cantabria (Spain) and offices in Barcelona and Singapore. Since completing its first installation in 2021, the company has deployed its eSAIL® system on eleven ships, with seven more in its order book, representing more than 50 eSAILs®. Its growing client portfolio includes industry leaders such as Eastern Pacific Shipping, Maersk Tankers, Odfjell, Klaveness Combination Carriers, and Louis Dreyfus Company, among others.   

For more information, visit: www.bound4blue.com   

About LISCR 

The Liberian Registry has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive and innovative service to owners. The Registry is comprised of over 6,000 vessels aggregating 300 million gross tons, representing more than 17 percent of the world’s ocean-going fleet. Moreover, the Liberian Registry has a well-deserved reputation for supporting international legislation designed to maintain and improve the safety and effectiveness of the shipping industry and the protection of the marine environment. 

For media enquiries contact   

Lloyd’s Register   

Glenn Harris  
Media Relations Lead   
M +44 7809 757 779   
E : glenn.harris@lr.org      

bound4blue 

T: +34 938 33 73 92
E: press@bound4blue.com