DNV has officially joined the International Windship Association (IWSA) with the intention of using the membership status to further support and accelerate the uptake of wind-assisted propulsion systems by the global shipping fleet.
Joining the IWSA as a full member positions DNV at the centre of technological, technical and political progressions in this technology sector alongside their central role of offering technical certification and pre-certification services for ships using wind propulsion technology. This includes offering a new classification class notation for ships using Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS).
To- date, DNV has awarded Class Approvals in Principle (AiP) to a number of WAPS on the market. DNV also provides bespoke advisory services to guide customers through assessing the safety, commercial, and technical suitability of WAPS and which systems are right for their business.
We are delighted to welcome DNV into IWSA with full member status at such a pivotal intersection on the wind propelled shipping journey. They will bring a wealth of experience to the association which is imperative since classification societies play a critical role in supporting safety and new technology, including those for wind-powered or wind-assisted shipping
Gavin Allwright, Secretary General of IWSA, said.
What is more, Hasso Hoffmeister, Senior Principal Engineer, DNV, added that “IWSA has made great strides in facilitating the accelerated uptake of wind and is the key convenor of important players.”
As IWSA explained, interest in this technology sector is growing as the performance of wind propulsion technologies becomes increasingly proven. In fact, in recent years, there has been a sharp uptake of wind propulsion systems for use on merchant ships.
Currently, twenty-one large commercial vessel wind propulsion installations are in operation and that number will likely double over the next twelve months.
