Bureau Veritas approves wind-assisted ship propulsion for VLCC and LNG carriers

Certification specialist Bureau Veritas has awarded an approval in principle to Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Global Service, TotalEnergies Gas & Power, and Mitsui OSK Lines for wind-assisted ship propulsion (WASP) on a very large crude carrier (VLCC) and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier.

The AiP was presented at Nor-Shipping in Oslo, Norway, marking the completion of a joint development project between the four companies to validate the potential for WASP on these ship types. Matthieu de Tugny, president of Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, presented the AiP certificates to the representatives of HHI, TotalEnergies and MOL at the event.

The joint development project focused on three wind propulsion technologies – two wing sails and a rotor sail system. The principal conclusion of the project and the subsequent issuance of the AiP demonstrates that all of these systems are compatible with existing classification rules and regulations for VLCCs and LNG carriers, paving the way for more detailed work to address specific risks that would enable detailed design and arrangement work to proceed.