Union Maritime MR2 Tankers with WindWings Gain SOLAS Approval
The Marshall Islands Flag State Administration and Bureau Veritas have formally approved SOLAS equivalency proposals submitted by Union Maritime and BAR Technologies for two MR2 tankers under construction at Wuhu Shipyard, China. The vessels will be equipped with BAR Technologies' WindWings advanced wind propulsion systems designed to reduce fuel use and emissions.The approvals cover detailed equivalency proposals addressing bridge visibility, navigation-light placement and radar line-of-sight, critical compliance factors affected by the installation of wing sails.
Wind-Assisted LNG Carrier Concept Gets BV AiP
Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd. (DSIC) unveiled a new generation of decarbonization-focused vessel designs, including a wind-assisted 175,000-cu.-m. LNG carrier that has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV). Developed by DSIC, the wind-assisted LNG carrier introduces an integrated solution combining LNG dual-fuel propulsion with sail-assisted technology, offering a practical and cost-controlled upgrade pathway for the global fleet of 175,000 m³ LNG carriers. The vessel is equipped with three next-generation foldable wing sails based on proprietary technology. Manufactured using lightweight composite materials, the sails feature independent folding and rotation functions.
DNV Approves CMES-Tech’s Tilting Rotorsail Design
DNV has granted a Type Approval Design Certificate (TADC) to CSSC Shanghai Marine Energy Saving Technology (CMES-Tech) for its new 35-meter tilting type wind assisted rotor system.This is the first domestically developed rotor sail system in China to achieve this recognition under DNV’s WAPS rules (ST-0511). With this certification, the system is confirmed ready for installation on DNV classed commercial vessels and marks a major milestone for China’s green-shipping technology industry.As shipping faces mounting pressure from fuel costs and emissions regulations…
World’s First Retrofit Fund Established
The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD), AIM Horizon Investments, and their partners have announced the successful closing of the Fund for Energy Efficiency Technologies (FEET), securing total commitments of up to $35 million, exceeding its initial target.As the world’s first fund for vessel retrofits leveraging a pay-as-you-save repayment mechanism, FEET directly addresses the long-standing financial barriers hindering the sector’s uptake of vessel retrofits.The fund has drawn strong interest from across the maritime value chain…
Fully Wind-Optimized Tanker Concept Unveiled
Finland-based Bluetech has partnered with NYSE-listed INSW to develop Bluetech’s new ‘SeaWasp’ tanker vessel design, purpose-designed for wind but still practical for INSW MR fleet operations.With the support of wind-propulsion specialist Norsepower, Bluetech modified its BT50 design to extract maximum forward thrust from two 35-metre Rotor Sails. This resulted in a total savings of up to 876kW of propulsion power on one representative INSW MR tanker route from San Francisco to…
Everllence, ABB, and OceanWings Partner on Sustainable Propulsion Concepts
At GasTech 2025 in Milan, Everllence signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ABB and OceanWings to jointly develop an optimized propulsion concept that builds upon Everllence’s and ABB’s existing DFE+ (Diesel-Electric with variable speed) concept.The concept enables high engine efficiency, even at partial loads; operational flexibility through multiple engines; and future integration of sustainable energy sources like batteries and fuel cells.With growing regulatory and financial pressure to reduce emissions and the technological maturity of wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS)…
U-Ming Installs Anemoi’s Rotor Sails on Grand Pioneer VLOC
U-Ming Marine Transport Corporation has completed the installation of four Rotor Sails on its very large ore carrier (VLOC) vessel Grand Pioneer, becoming the first Taiwanese shipowner to adopt the wind-assisted propulsion technology.The sails, supplied by U.K.-based Anemoi Marine Technologies, were installed on a 325,000 deadweight tonne (DWT) vessel at COSCO Zhoushan Shipyard in September during a scheduled dry-docking.The plug-and-play process saw the four 35-meter tall, five-meter diameter sails lifted onto the vessel and fixed in 1.5 days…
DNV Certifies OceanWings’ Wind Assisted Propulsion System
OceanWings has received a Type Approval Design Certificate (TADC) from DNV, marking a major milestone in the industrial validation of the company’s automated wingsail propulsion system.The certificate confirms that the design of the rigid OceanWings system, in both its tiltable and fixed configurations, meets DNV’s rigorous technical and regulatory standards for safety, reliability, and operation.The system is designed to support shipping’s transition toward cleaner energy and…
DNV Awards AiP to HD HHI for Vessel Designs with Forward Accommodation, WAPS
At Gastech 2025, DNV awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) for the design of next-generation LNG carriers (LNGC) and Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLEC) with forward accommodation and Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS). The designs, featuring 174K LNGCs and 100K VLECs (Ethane/LPG carriers), are the first from HD HHI to combine a forward accommodation layout with the integration of tiltable rotor sails. The LNGC design will be equipped with four tiltable rotor sails from Norsepower, while the VLEC design will incorporate two.
