bound4blue Installs eSAILs on South Pacific Multipurpose Vessel

bound4blue has completed the installation of a 22-metre-high eSAIL onboard the newbuild multipurpose vessel Na Hiro E Pae, marking a milestone for both the vessel owner, Société de Navigation des Australes SNA Tuha'a Pae Shipping Company, and the wider adoption of wind propulsion technology.

Multipurpose cargo vessels in French Polynesia are commonly known as “goelettes,” a reference to the schooners that historically supplied remote islands under sail. Na Hiro E Pae is the first known multipurpose vessel worldwide to adopt a wind propulsion system, linking this maritime heritage with modern shipping through bound4blue’s eSAIL technology.

The installation was carried out at Astilleros Armon Vigo, Spain, prior to the vessel delivery. Today, Na Hiro E Pae operates between Tahiti and the remote Austral Islands, transporting passengers, food supplies and general cargo, providing a vital maritime lifeline for local communities.

Na Hiro E Pae delivers a mix of passenger comfort, with capacity for up to 200 passengers, alongside an essential and affordable transport link for students, families and workers, and cargo efficiency, supporting loading and unloading operations for up to 1,500 tons of vital supplies for the South Pacific archipelago.

In addition, bound4blue’s mechanically simple suction sail, producing up to seven times