Hanwha Ocean’s Rotor Sail system design receives approval from Bureau Veritas

The design certification announced at Gastech 2024 marks a significant milestone in wind-assisted propulsion technology.

Hanwha Ocean Co., Ltd.(Hanwha Ocean), one of the largest shipbuilders in the world, has been awarded approval from Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) and the Liberian Registry respectively through Statement of Compliance and Approval in Principle for its new rotor sail system onboard in LNG carriers, marking a significant advancement in wind-assisted propulsion technology, advancing the industry’s efforts to reduce onboard emissions.

A Statement of Compliance (SoC) was presented to Hanwha Ocean offcials, by Paillette PALAIOLOGOU, Senior Vice President, East Europe, Mediterranean Sea, Middle East, India & Africa (EMA), Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, at Gastech 2024. 

The Joint Development Project (JDP), conducted by Hanwha Ocean in collaboration with BV and the Liberian Registry, aimed to independently assess regulatory equivalency and exemptions for the installation of wind propulsion systems, specifically the rotor sails, on LNG carriers. As the demand for cleaner shipping technologies rises in response to tightened environmental regulations, Hanwha Ocean's rotor sails offer a sustainable solution by generating thrust through wind energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from commercial vessels.

The rotor sail system, designed to be installed on the deck of commercial vessels, needed to meet critical international standards, including visibility requirements outlined by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the International Convention for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea (COLREG). However, due to the size and arrangement of rotor sails, compliance with these regulations presented significant challenges. The JDP undertook a comprehensive review of these issues, exploring potential alternatives and conducting a Hazard Identification (HAZID) study to mitigate risks.

As part of this rigorous evaluation, the system was benchmarked against BV NR206 – Wind Propulsion Systems and NR467 – Rules for the Classification of Steel Ships, both of which provide essential criteria for certifying innovative maritime technologies. The final design achieved both the Statement of Compliance from BV and Approval in Principle (AiP) from the Liberian Registry, confirming the technical viability and safety of Hanwha Ocean's rotor sail system as presented by Hanwha Ocean.

Hanwha Ocean official said: “Hanwha Ocean has over 50 years of shipbuilding expertise. We will provide ship owners with the highest level of products by considering various cases when installing new products on ships”.

Thomas Klenum, Executive Vice President, Liberian Registry, said: “Congratulations to Hanwha Ocean for the successful development and approval of their rotor sail system. The Liberian Registry is proud to have contributed to this JDP in collaboration with Hanwha Ocean and BV resulting in issuing our AIP. Energy efficiency technologies such as Hanwha Ocean’s rotor sail system will play a vital role for the decarbonization of international shipping”.