Klaveness Combination Carriers ASA (KCC) will be equipping its latest CABU III newbuild with the industry’s largest suction sails, made by bound4blue.

KCC, through a subsidiary, has confirmed an agreement with Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding and Jiangsu Yangzi Xinfu Shipbuilding to install bound4blue’s eSAILs® suction sails on its third CABU III vessel, slated for delivery in Q3 2026. This vessel will be among the first tanker/bulk carriers outfitted with the advanced Wind Assisted Propulsion System (WAPS), showcasing two eSAIL® units, each standing 24 meters tall, setting a new size benchmark for suction sails in the sector.

The decision to implement bound4blue’s WAPS followed a detailed evaluation of wind-assist technologies, with the eSAILs® chosen for their performance potential on KCC’s specific routes. The eSAILs®, leveraging suction sail technology, create forward thrust by capturing wind power, reducing main engine fuel use and, in turn, emissions. Each sail, powered by a fan system that draws air over the optimized surface, delivers increased propulsive efficiency—a key factor as KCC continues to advance its carbon reduction initiatives.