On 2 August 2024 ClassNK issued the world’s first approval in principle (AiP) for the building of an LNG carrier installed with Wind-Assisted Propulsion System.
ClassNK issued the AiP for the membrane-type LNG carrier installed with the ‘Wind Challenger’, a hard sail wind propulsion system. The ship is being jointly developed by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. and Hanwha Ocean Co., Ltd. This marks the world’s first AiP for an LNG carrier equipped with a Wind-Assisted Propulsion System (WAPS).
As a solution for responding to the environmental regulations and fuel cost reduction, the implementation of wind-assisted propulsion systems is under way on many projects.
When such systems are installed on board ships, they are expected to be effective in reducing CO2 emissions, etc., by taking advantage of wind power.
However, depending on the scale and specifications, they also pose risks to ship’s structure, crew on board, and the surrounding environment.
To provide safety guidance for addressing these risks appropriately, ClassNK published the ‘Guidelines for Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems for Ships’ as a standard for wind-assisted propulsion systems and ships equipped with these systems.
At the initial stage of designing or before the specific target ship to be implemented is decided, the design is examined based on the existing regulations such as international conventions and ship classification rules, and an Approval in Principle (AiP) is issued as proof of conformity with requirements.
It also prevents rework of regulatory aspects in the post-process, shortens the examination time at the time of class registration, and can be used as a technical basis for external appeal of the design status. For more information, visit our website.
