DNV issues type approval for VentoFoil 3-Series suction sails
The Eco freighter Heinz of HS Schiffahrt is among the first vessels to sail under the Type Approval Design Certificate
(Source: DNV)
Econowind’s VentoFoil 3-Series boundary layer suction wings have been issued with a Type Approval Design Certificate (TSDC) by DNV. The document confirms compliance with the classification society’s ST-0511 standard for Wind Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS).
The Ventofoil 3-Series is the company’s most successful suction wing so far, with more than 150 units sold. The rigid WAPS, designed for short-sea and regional trades, have a tilting foundation that enable the sails to be lowered during port operations or in adverse weather conditions. The 7,000dwt multipurpose vessel, MS Heinz, owned by Germany’s HS Schiffahrt, is one of the first vessels to have the 16m-high 3-Series installed after the TADC.
DNV Maritime’s senior principal engineer, Hasso Hoffmeister, commented: “It is a great pleasure to award Econowind this new certificate. WAPS have been going from strength to strength over the past few years, from 2022 the number of vessels in operation has increased five times, and we’ve now topped the century mark. And with the current advances in technology, materials, and production capacity in the segment, we expect this to accelerate.”
Chiel de Leeuw, Econowind CCO, said: “This TADC gives DNV-classed shipowners confidence that VentoFoils meet the highest industry standards. It simplifies the approval process for both retrofits and newbuilds. VentoFoils are ideal for late-stage design integration and retrofit projects. This is an important milestone for Econowind and for the wider adoption of wind-assisted ship propulsion.”
