BV issues AiP for wind-assisted container ship

Bureau Veritas (BV) has awarded Nantes-based Zéphyr & Borée with Approval in Principle (AiP) for an 1,800-TEU, open-top, container ship design which incorporates eight wing sails. The asymmetric sails, developed by Paris firm, Computed Wing Sails, are controlled automatically for optimal savings from wind power.

The 185m-long vessel, with five cargo holds and an IMO Tier III propulsion system, has shaft generators and a heat recovery system to minimise fuel consumption.

Zéphyr & Borée CEO, Nils Joyeux, said: “We are convinced that the wind energy will play an important role in the years to come to decarbonise ships’ propulsion. We are delighted to collaborate with BV on this project, which represents a key milestone by demonstrating the viability of wing-sails as a wind propulsion solution for container ships.”

BV Marine & Offshore’s Laurent Leblanc, SVP Technical & Operations, commented: “Wind propulsion systems can play a significant role by providing substantial propulsive energy. With this AiP, we are pleased to demonstrate the technology can be applied to containerships, which represent 17.5% of the global fleet (in tonnage). Bureau Veritas continues to lead the way in developing guidelines and frameworks for the safe and efficient use of this promising technology.”