Hanwha Ocean’s rotor sail technology receives blessing from BV, Liberian Registry

South Korean shipbuilding titan Hanwha Ocean has been awarded approvals from the French classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) and the Liberian Registry respectively via a statement of compliance (SoC) and approval in principle (AiP) for its rotor sail technology onboard liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.

As disclosed, the SoC and the AiP confirmed the technical viability and safety of Hanwha Ocean’s rotor sail system.

According to BV, the joint development project (JDP) that Hanwha Ocean, BV and Liberian Registry conducted together had had the aim of independently assessing the regulatory equivalence and exceptions for the installation of wind propulsion systems, specifically for rotor sails, on LNG carriers.

BV highlighted that the rotor sail system, which was engineered for installation on the deck of commercial vessels, had to meet key 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).

The reality was, however, that, due to rotor sails’ size and arrangement, complying with the regulations presented ‘significant’ challenges. This is reportedly why the JDP undertook a ‘thorough’ review of these issues, delving into potential alternatives and conducting a hazard identification (HAZID) study to mitigate risks.

The final design, thus, was able to ‘reaffirm’ that the South Korean shipbuilder’s rotor sail technology—believed to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from commercial vessels—provides a ‘sustainable solution’.

To remind, Hanwha Ocean’s rotor sail system was given the go-ahead by Norwegian classification society DNV in late September this year. The company received a type approval design certification (TADC) from DNV, which proved that the system was compliant with international standards and prepared for practical application on commercial vessels.

The approval also covered the installation of the rotor sail in hazardous zones onboard vessels, making it the ‘first certificate of its kind in South Korea.’

According to the International Windship Association (IWSA), the maritime industry has seen a threefold uptick of wind-powered ships installations, driven by the performance of wind propulsion technology bolstering in recent years paired with installation costs and return on investment (ROI) decreasing.