The Fund for Energy Efficiency Technologies (FEET) has completed its inaugural financing deal, providing capital for the installation of wind-assisted propulsion systems on two chemical tankers operated by Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS). The *mv Pacific Sentinel* and *mv Pacific Sunstone* have each been equipped with three 22-meter suction sails, representing the first vessels in EPS's fleet to adopt this technology.
This initiative is a collaboration between the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD), fund manager AIM Horizon Investments, and Eastern Pacific Shipping. The FEET fund, which secured commitments in November 2025, aims to accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient technologies in the maritime sector through a pay-as-you-save model.
For freight forwarders and shippers, the deployment of such technologies on chemical tankers could contribute to more sustainable supply chains, potentially leading to lower emissions associated with their cargo. While the immediate impact on freight rates is unlikely to be significant, broader adoption of these systems across fleets could eventually influence bunker surcharges and overall operational costs, as carriers seek to recoup investment in green technologies and comply with stricter environmental regulations. This move also signals a growing trend towards decarbonization in specialized segments like chemical shipping, which may affect future vessel availability and routing as more ships undergo retrofits.
