The maritime industry has long been a beacon of innovation, and the Motorship Award shines a spotlight on individuals and teams pushing boundaries in sustainable, efficient, and groundbreaking technology.

At this year’s Propulsion and Future Fuels event in Hamburg, the award saw a stellar lineup of nominees, each contributing significantly to maritime advancements. The winner, voted for by an equally stellar group of attendees, was Albert Llopis Pascual, head of aerodynamics at bound4blue. He received an overwhelming number of votes from attendees and received the award at the conference dinner held at Zum Alten Lotsenhaus in recognition for his company’s revolutionary eSAIL suction sail technology.

Bound4blue’s eSAIL perhaps caught the audience’s attention due to its transformative potential in wind-assisted propulsion. Designed for both retrofitted and newly built vessels, the eSAIL leverages suction technology, channelling air across its aerodynamic surface to harness wind power efficiently.