Bureau Veritas approves wind assisted ship propulsion
The approval for VLCC and LNG carriers follows joint development work with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), TotalEnergies, and Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL)
Bureau Veritas (BV), a world leader in testing, inspection, and certification awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) for Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion (WASP) on a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) and a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carrier.
The AiP was presented by Matthieu de Tugny, President of Bureau Veritas Marine and Offshore, at Nor-Shipping in Oslo.
It marks the successful completion of a Joint Development Project (JDP) between all four companies: HHI, Hyundai Global Service, TotalEnergies, and MOL. The project has enhanced the industry’s understanding of WASP and validated its potential for use on specific carriers.
The JDP focused on three wind propulsion technologies, two of which were wing sails and one a rotor sail system. The project demonstrated that all these systems are compatible with existing classification rules and regulations for VLCCs and LNG carriers.
BV actively supports the development of innovative technologies by participating in multiple WASP projects. In March 2021, the company released an update to its rule note for Wind Propulsion Systems (WPS) – NR 206.
Building on pre-existing BV rules released in 1987, the rule note provides the classification requirements for modern wind-powered ships. It also provides load cases and coefficients for all types of wind propulsion technologies.
These dedicated rules serve as the key classification framework for wind assisted propulsion. It firstly ensures the safety and accurate integration of wind propulsion systems with other onboard systems. Throughout a vessel’s in-service life, the rules also address survey regimes and maintenance requirements.
Overall, the conclusion of the AiP is helping to pave the way for more detailed work in the future, which will address potential risks surrounding detailed design and arrangement work.