EIC beneficiaries on World Sustainable Transport Day 2024: practical innovations for a greener maritime sector

The United Nations established World Sustainable Transport Day to highlight the role of transport systems in climate action, economic development and social inclusion. In maritime transport, decarbonisation is technically possible but commercially and operationally complex. Two European Innovation Council Accelerator beneficiaries, bound4blue and Cold Pad, are pursuing different technical routes to reduce the sector's environmental footprint. Both showcased their work around 26 November 2024 and together illustrate the mix of incremental and disruptive approaches that are currently competing for adoption across the industry.

Two approaches, one objective: reduce emissions and operational risks at sea

bound4blue: wind-assisted propulsion using the eSAIL wingsail system

Based in Spain and led by a team of wind propulsion specialists, bound4blue develops an electrically assisted wingsail system called eSAIL. The company positions the technology as a retrofit and newbuild option that can deliver double-digit reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The company reports two patented wingsail types, four vessels fitted with the technology so far and 13 additional projects under negotiation or development.

Dana Camps Valls, Head of Marketing at bound4blue, emphasised regulatory drivers and market fit. She said the solution helps owners comply with increasingly stringent international and EU rules while improving economic performance. The company and its backers frame eSAIL as a commercially viable lever to rapidly cut emissions on routes and vessel types where wind conditions are favorable.

That claim is consistent with other industry analyses which indicate that wind-assist can reduce fuel use substantially for some vessel types and trade routes. Practical constraints remain. Savings vary by weather, vessel operating profile and the proportion of time sails can contribute. Wide adoption also requires consistent certification pathways, port and repair infrastructure, and finance models that compensate owners for retrofit capital expenditure.

Cold Pad: bonded cold-installed fasteners and non-intrusive structural repairs

Cold Pad is a French engineering company that focuses on bonded repairs and non-intrusive fastening solutions for offshore, marine, wind energy and onshore industrial assets. Its technology is designed for 'cold' installation during live operations and to minimise the need for hot work such as welding or drilling.

Cold Pad has been developing a family of bonded fasteners and a bonded anchor point under a project known as C_CLAW_C_HAWK, funded under Horizon 2024. The company reports a significant certification milestone. On 4 November 2024 Bureau Veritas issued a Type Approval Certificate for Cold Pad's C-Claw S-300 bonded mechanical fastener, a first for that technology.

Cold Pad also highlights the development of a bonded mechanical anchor point certified by Bureau Veritas on 4 November with a stated lifespan of 35 years in maritime environments. The company describes this as a world-first for a bonded mechanical anchor point. CEO Julien Bec framed the innovation in the context of the shift to transition fuels that are heat sensitive and therefore require non-sparking installation methods. He said that traditional methods like welding or bolting are often unsuitable for certain assets and that Cold Pad offers a safer, faster, and cost-effective alternative.

Visibility, procurement and buyer engagement: the EIC Matchmaking event in Greece

On 22 October 2024 bound4blue and Cold Pad were among five EIC beneficiaries selected to present at the EIC Matchmaking procurement event Maritime Climate Action. The event was hosted by the National Bank of Greece and organised by SPIN4EIC together with Iomarlabs. The session brought innovators face to face with Greek government officials, European Innovation Council representatives, and local maritime stakeholders.

Both companies described the event as an opportunity to find collaborations and funding. Dana Camps Valls said the event opened opportunities for collaboration and funding that could help both immediately and in the future. Julien Bec said the engagement allowed Cold Pad to showcase expertise and how its technologies can reduce environmental impacts in the maritime sector.

Progress to date and what remains to be proven

Both innovators have tangible milestones that help their commercial case. bound4blue reports two patented wingsail designs and four vessel installations with 13 projects in the pipeline. Cold Pad has secured Bureau Veritas Type Approval for the C-Claw S-300 and reports the bonded anchor point certified with a 35-year design life. Cold Pad also coordinates the Horizon 2024 C_CLAW_C_HAWK project which targets non-intrusive assembly for offshore wind turbines and storage facilities.

These milestones matter for buyer confidence. Certification from a classification society such as Bureau Veritas reduces a significant barrier to adoption for shipowners and operators. For wind-assisted systems, repeatable installations and demonstration across representative trades will be necessary to convert interest into procurement contracts and retrofit programmes.

A pragmatic appraisal: strengths, limitations and the path to scale

Both technologies are aligned with industry needs. Wind assist addresses fuel use and emissions. Cold-installed bonded fasteners reduce safety and downtime risks that are amplified by newer, more flammable transition fuels. Nevertheless a few caveats are worth emphasising.

Finally, workforce and operational integration matter. New hardware and altered maintenance routines require training, spare parts supply chains and new contractual terms. The EIC and affiliated procurement events can help bridge those gaps by connecting vendors with buyers and by incubating standards through piloting programmes.

What to watch next

Monitor several near-term indicators to assess whether these innovations move beyond demonstration. For bound4blue look for independent fuel and emissions verification across multiple voyages, insurance acceptance and retrofit guidance from classification societies. For Cold Pad watch long term field performance data, adoption in sensitive fuel applications, and broader approval from other major class societies beyond Bureau Veritas.

Both companies benefit from EIC Accelerator Challenge support which aims to scale high impact European innovations. Events such as the EIC Matchmaking procurement sessions and SPIN4EIC services are useful to translate technical milestones into procurement opportunities. Yet converting technology readiness into fleet-level impact will require aligned regulation, financing models and systematic pilot programmes.

Further information and sources

Cold Pad and bound4blue maintain project pages on CORDIS and corporate sites with technical details and contact points. Bureau Veritas published the Type Approval notice for Cold Pad's C-Claw S-300 on 4 November 2024. The EIC Accelerator Challenge and SPIN4EIC programme pages provide context on funding and procurement support. This article synthesises those public sources and situates the technologies within common industry constraints and adoption pathways.

Disclaimer: The information here is provided for knowledge sharing. It does not represent an official view of the European Commission or any other organisation. Reported certifications and deployment numbers are those publicly stated by the companies and certifiers as of the dates cited.