MOL’s wind-assisted LNG carrier gets ClassNK nod

Japanese classification society ClassNK has issued an approval in principle (AiP) for Mitsui O.S.K. Lines’ (MOL) new LNG carrier fitted with a wind-assisted propulsion system (WAPS).

PHOTO: Illustration of MOL’s LNG carrier equipped with hard sails. MOL

The 174,000-cbm capacity LNG carrier will feature two hard sails as part of its wind power propulsion system. These large hard sails will capture wind energy and convert it into propulsive force.

The system's detailed design work is still in progress, with installation plans underway. The vessel is under construction at the South Korean shipyard Hanwha Ocean.

MOL, Hanwha Ocean, and ClassNK conducted a risk assessment that thoroughly evaluated factors such as onboard placement of the sails, impact on visibility, emergency operation procedures and other safety measures, leading to the grant of this AiP.

French containment system builder GTT, the designer of the vessel's cargo tank, assessed the impact of sail installation on the cargo tank. GTT confirmed that the tank's structural safety is adequately maintained, even with the added stresses from the sails.

This AiP is the world's first approval for an LNG carrier equipped with a WAPS, MOL claims.

By Tuhin Roy

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