bound4blue - Experts & Thought Leaders

Nor-Shipping 2025, taking place in Oslo and Lillestrøm 2-6 June, has announced the shortlists for two of its most coveted accolades, the Next Generation Ship Award and the Ocean Solutions Award. Celebrating innovations, technologies and pioneering projects capable of balancing both environmental and commercial sustainability, the initiatives attracted a huge number of entries from across the world. Selecting the eventual winners was, according to Nor-Shipping Director Sidsel Norvik, “tougher than ever”. Pioneering projects Nor-Shipping’s Next Generation Ship Award champions trail-blazing projects that are either newbuildings under construction, conversions, retrofits, or recent deliveries. This year’s shortlisted entrants are: Windcat Workboats’ Elevation Series CSOVs: Hydrogen-powered, offshore service vessels developed in collaboration with Damen and CMB.TECH. Solvang Shipping’s Clipper Eris retrofit: Carbon capture and storage retrofit on a 21,000m3 ethylene carrier, reducing GHG emissions. NYK’s Sakigake conversion: The world’s first ammonia-fuelled tugboat, converted from LNG fuel to demonstrate low-carbon alternatives. Samskip’s SeaShuttle feeder vessels: Hydrogen fuel cell-powered zero-emission container ships for shortsea routes. Bibby Marine’s eCSOV hybrid vessels: Offshore wind support vessels designed for long-term zero-emission operations. From challenge to opportunity The Ocean Solutions Award, meanwhile, is open to Nor-Shipping participants with landmark innovations capable of helping the industry meet some of its most pressing challenges. As always, the competition was intense, with the expert jury eventually selecting the following shortlisted nominees: Wärtsilä Carbon Capture and Storage: A modular system designed for integration into existing propulsion setups, reducing CO₂ emissions. Zeabuz autonomous ship platform: Pioneering remote and autonomous vessel operations to address crew shortages and enhance safety. Wärtsilä ammonia solution: A full-scale deployment of ammonia as a marine fuel, showcasing safety and operational efficiency. ORCA AI situational awareness: An AI-driven platform enhancing navigational safety through real-time risk detection and data analysis. bound4blue’s eSail system: Innovative ‘suction sail’ wind propulsion solutions cutting fuel consumption, emissions and easing regulatory compliance for a wide range of vessel types. Fierce competition “What a year,” comments Nor-Shipping Director Norvik. “The competition was fiercer than ever, with some outstanding entrants, so getting this far in the awards should be a huge source of pride for all the shortlisted companies and teams." “The evolving nature of the competing fields every time we run these initiatives is a testament to both the progress within the industry and the continued commitment of key stakeholders to build a cleaner, smarter, and more resilient maritime future. We’re proud to support these innovations and can’t wait to see the winners enjoying the spotlight when the shipping world meets next month in Norway!” Winners of the Next Generation Ship Award The winners of the Next Generation Ship Award and Ocean Solution Award will be revealed in front of an audience of key industry decision makers at Nor-Shipping’s Ocean Leadership Conference on 3 June. This year’s Nor-Shipping programme, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the event week, focuses on the theme of #Future-Proof. More than 50,000 decision makers, and around 1,000 exhibiting companies, will attend the unique week-long event.

Nor-Shipping, in partnership with YoungShip, reveals the shortlist for this year’s Nor-Shipping Young Entrepreneur Award, with the drive to decarbonise, digitalise, and deliver greater inclusivity within the maritime industry taking centre stage. Set to be presented on 2 June at Nor-Shipping’s After Work ‘kick-off’ at Oslo’s famous Leketer’n venue, the prestigious accolade celebrates under-40s making waves with commercially viable solutions addressing key ocean industry challenges. Previous winners include Cristina Aleixendri, COO and Co-Founder of bound4blue, and Boyan Slat, CEO of The Ocean CleanUp. The final four The quartet selected by an expert industry panel, after intense competition and discussion, are: Joachim Bachmann Nielsen, CEO/CTO of Kvasir Technologies, a company transforming low-value biomass into scalable, carbon-neutral marine fuels; Fabian Fussek, Co-Founder & CEO of Kaiko Systems, an AI-powered platform helping shipping companies enhance safety, compliance and maintenance; Josephine Le, Founder of The Hood Platform, a digital hub breaking down barriers in maritime recruitment and supporting next generation talent; and Alisha Fredriksson, CEO and Co-Founder of Seabound, a climate tech innovator developing onboard carbon capture systems for hard-to-abate shipping emissions. United by ambition “These finalists are pursuing goals that chime perfectly with industry needs, and the #Future-Proof theme of Nor-Shipping 2025,” comments Sidsel Norvik, Director, Nor-Shipping, adding “They have the talent, ideas and ambition that can define future industry opportunity, shaping smarter, cleaner, and more inclusive operations and businesses.” He continues, “Each brings a different background, a fresh perspective, and innovative solutions to pressing industry challenges, but they’re united by a passion and determination to make a real impact. I wish them the very best of luck – both for the award and the years ahead.” A platform for the future Nor-Shipping Young Entrepreneur Award is delivered in collaboration with YoungShip The Nor-Shipping Young Entrepreneur Award is delivered in collaboration with YoungShip, the global non-profit network for young maritime professionals. Erlend Holberg of YoungShip praised the calibre of the 2025 field, commenting: "For this industry to be truly sustainable, commercially as well as environmentally, we have to open pathways for the next generation to access the networks, support and markets they need to succeed." Benefit from the ideas Erlend Holberg added: "That way all stakeholders, from businesses and society, can benefit from the ideas, enthusiasm and energy that – as we saw from the huge field of talent competing for this prize – is so abundant in our young professionals worldwide. I can’t wait to see who wins this coveted title at Nor-Shipping 2025." This year’s Nor-Shipping programme, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the event week, runs from 2–6 June in Lillestrøm and Oslo.

bound4blue has completed the installation of its breakthrough eSAIL® suction sails on tanker vessel Pacific Sentinel with a streamlined single-stop process for Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) at Besiktas Shipyard in Turkey during a planned drydocking. Three 22-metre, DNV Type Approved eSAILs® were installed on the 50,000dwt Pacific Sentinel in under a day per unit, as planned. Overall energy consumption The installation took place during a scheduled vessel drydock, with preparatory work completed in advance The installation took place during a scheduled vessel drydock, with preparatory work completed in advance. The fully autonomous wind-assisted propulsion system (WAPS) will help the vessel reduce overall energy consumption with forecasted energy consumption savings of around 10% depending on vessel routeing, slashing OPEX and emissions to air, while also enhancing regulatory compliance.  Planned vessel maintenance The installation heralds a landmark in numerous regards, signifying EPS’ first step into wind-assisted propulsion – as a continuation of its ambitious decarbonisation programme - while also marking bound4blue’s first tanker installation. The Spanish-based wind pioneer has undertaken a fast-track “single-stop” process, ensuring minimal vessel downtime with all work undertaken during planned vessel maintenance at the shipyard. Fast-track, single-stop benefits    The fast-track, single-stop installation combined vessel groundwork, such as fitting pedestals for the eSAILs® The fast-track, single-stop installation combined vessel groundwork, such as fitting pedestals for the eSAILs® and welding, with the simultaneous preparation and programming of the sails. This efficient approach helped minimise installation time.  David Ferrer, Co-founder and CTO, bound4blue explains: “We’re committed to helping shipping companies, such as EPS, embrace clean, proven, wind power in the simplest, most cost-efficient and effective manner." Other key partners in all installations Ferrer added: "Thanks to our collaboration with shipowners, operators, shipyards, and other key partners in all installations carried out by bound4blue, we have achieved a quick, robust, and high-quality deployment procedure." "In this case, the vessel and sails were fully prepared in advance, ensuring they could be lifted and bolted into place without extending the planned time at the yard.”  Easy advantages  Ferrer adds that the nature of the eSAIL® unlocks further benefits for cost, weight savings Ferrer adds that the nature of the eSAIL® unlocks further advantages for cost, weight savings and efficiency on what could otherwise have been a demanding task.  Ferrer added: “The fact that this is an MR Tanker creates unique challenges in terms of ATEX zones and air draft limitations, but the eSAILs® simplicity is the ideal solution." Other demanding shipping segments Ferrer added: “It allows for non-EX-proof units, which streamlines the process, and reduces CAPEX, while their high performance achieves substantial savings without requiring excessively large sails, eliminating the need for tilting mechanisms and allowing for compatibility with the vessel's existing air draft." "It is, we believe, an ‘easy’ way for such vessels, and many other demanding shipping segments, to access the compelling commercial, regulatory and environmental advantages of wind power.”  Ensuring regulatory compliance The installation completed in union with ABS, ensuring compliance with safety standards The installation was also completed in collaboration with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), ensuring compliance with the highest classification and safety standards. Achieving a ‘wind-assisted’ notation played a key role in verifying the structural integration of the eSAILs® with the vessel while aligning with regulatory frameworks such as the EU ETS, CII, and FuelEU Maritime.  Sustainable partnerships  bound4blue has installed its solution on five vessels, with many more in its growing order book. EPS, which signed the agreement for the Pacific Sentinel in February 2024 and has now successfully completed this installation, further extended its collaboration with bound4blue in December 2024 through a new agreement for the installation of three eSAILs® on an MR tanker under construction at New Times Shipbuilding in Jiangsu Province, China. This installation is scheduled for late 2025. Benefits of wind propulsion  bound4blue has installed its solution on five vessels, with many more in its growing order book Speaking of the collaboration with bound4blue, Mirtcho Spassov, Decarbonisation Manager at EPS, comments: “We are committed to reducing emissions across our fleet by embracing cutting-edge green technologies, including wind-assisted propulsion. We need the right partners to achieve meaningful impact, and we’ve found bound4blue, with their proven technology and solutions-driven approach, to be an excellent match." "This successful installation is testament to our partnership, and we look forward to harnessing the benefits of wind propulsion in support of our drive to decarbonise. We look forward to completing our second installation later this year.”  Delivering progress  The eSAIL® units work by dragging air across an aerodynamic surface to generate exceptional propulsive efficiency. The technology is suitable for both newbuilds and retrofitting across the huge majority of vessel segments, including, but not limited to, Tankers, Bulkers, Ro-Ros, Cruises, Ferries, Gas Carriers, and General Cargo vessels.   eSAILs® help shipping companies simplify compliance, and achieve advantage, with regulations including EU ETS, CII and FuelEU Maritime, while offering a typical payback of less than five years.

More than almost any trend, decarbonisation is driving the future of maritime. That reality alone makes decarbonisation the perfect topic for our first-ever Expert Panel Roundtable column. Traditional maritime fuels, like heavy fuel oil, release harmful pollutants that contribute to air pollution and have adverse health effects. We have to do better, and discussions in the maritime industry centre on which combination of alternative fuels and other technologies can solve the shorter- and longer-term challenges of decarbonisation. For an update on the various approaches, we asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the latest maritime technology trends in decarbonisation?