Making wind easy for tankers: non-ATEX-proof WAPS

There’s no sustainability without safety. But in the world of tankers, gas carriers and other vessels transporting flammable materials, meeting strict requirements for wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS) can make CAPEX unreasonably high. But does it have to be this way?

Spoiler alert. NO. bound4blue’s non-ATEX-proof eSAILs® are perfectly suited to empower greener performance for this crucial shipping segment.

What is ATEX?

Safety in maritime operations is paramount, and never more so than when transporting flammable materials.

The ‘hazardous areas’ on these assets live up to their name, with the build-up of gases demanding unrelenting rigour when it comes to ensuring zero ignition potential and complete vessel safety.

Traditionally this means opting for ATEX-proof (explosion proof) technology to deliver peace of mind. A move that, thanks to the additional costs of adaptation, doesn’t always bring a sense of peace to the bottom line.

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Payback penalty

In short, ATEX-proof equipment comes with a price premium. However, that added cost does not result in any extra performance or efficiency gain. Instead, it simply extends the payback period. This is why choosing non-ATEX-proof solutions, when safe to do so, is key to optimizing ROI.

The suction sail eSAIL® by bound4blue follows this approach. Installing non-ATEX-proof eSAILs® avoids unnecessary cost increases, making ROI significantly more attractive.

So, how can this be achieved?

Hidden hazards

Firstly, avoid the danger zones. WAPS units that are positioned outside hazardous areas – away from vent masts, for example, in elevated, safe deck positions – side-step the requirement for ATEX-proof certification.

However, this raises the issue of accessibility, a must for maintenance and inspections.

Some WAPS solutions, such as those incorporating Flettner rotors, require access from below. That creates the need for an opening within the foundation underneath the system, which is commonly located within the hazardous areas over deck. Unfortunately, this turns the whole confined area in the foundation into a hazardous zone.

As a consequence, when the lower hatch of a unit is opened to access the equipment, it is again an opening to a hazardous area of a confined space that transforms the entire WAPS system into a hazardous area.

In other words, to adopt an economical non-ATEX-proof WAPS solution you have to position both the sail and its access door outside the hazardous area. Fail to do that and there’s an additional price to pay for safe sailing.

Moreover, if you’re wondering whether extending the foundation to place the opening above the hazardous area is a viable option, the answer is no, as this would only allow for the installation of smaller WAPS without increasing the vessel’s airdraft, leading to a consequent loss of potential savings.

The solution – non-ATEX-proof eSAILs®

Thankfully, bound4blue has a simple way of mitigating risk and avoiding hazards.

The design of our latest eSAIL® has been refined, with the maintenance access door for the suction sails being moved from below the unit to the side, so that the eSAIL® position can be lowered just above existing hazardous zones on deck, maximizing the available eSAIL® height without increasing vessel airdraft.

This means that negating the need for more costly, ATEX-proof variants.

The result? The simplest, safest, most cost effective and high performing way for complex tankers to install truly game-changing WAPS.

Growing market awareness

It’s a proposition that is rapidly gaining traction in the tanker market. At the time of writing, Eastern Pacific Shipping has already been installed, and four installations are currently underway for Maersk Tankers, Marflet Marine, Odfjell, and a second Eastern Pacific Shipping vessel.

In a challenging world of evolving regulations, ambitious climate goals and commercial uncertainty, bound4blue’s non-ATEX-proof WAPS provide this key segment with a straightforward pathway to both business and environmental benefits.

To find out more about the advantages of installing bound4blue technology on your tanker fleet, please do get in touch “sales@bound4blue.com”.

About the author

David Ferrer-Desclaux is the CTO and co-founder of bound4blue. His journey began at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, where he envisioned advanced sail systems inspired by aircraft technology to improve maritime propulsion. Since co-founding bound4blue in 2015, David has gained international recognition, including being named one of MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35 Europe in 2018. Under David’s leadership, bound4blue has tested its technology in prototypes and is integrating it into large commercial vessels, with four installations completed and agreements with six more shipowners.