The AIP was awarded through a virtual award ceremony. Credit: DNV GL.

Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering (KSOE) has secured an Approval in Principle (AIP) from classification society DNV GL for a wing-sail auxiliary propulsion system for ships.

The system was delivered by KSOE and SK Shipping under a joint project that seeks to develop wind-powered eco-friendly propulsion solutions.

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It includes a 20m-wide, 50m-high wing sails that are installed vertically on the two sides of the deck. The system uses the wind to rotate the wings, providing auxiliary propulsion to the ship and increasing its efficiency.

The height of the wing can be lowered to 10m, increasing its flexibility in operations.

KSOE Head of the Future Ship Research Department Hyunjoon Shin said: “We are speeding up efforts to bring eco-friendly technologies to the market. The wing sail system will reduce fuel consumption by more than 6%.

“We will take the lead in the next-generation ship market and continue to strengthen our technological competitiveness.”

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DNV GL awarded the AIP after assessing the initial drawings related to design loads, system responses, redundancies, and components. SK Shipping provided necessary expertise and insights on the technology.

DNV GL Korea & Japan regional manager Vidar Dolonen said: “As a result of the joint research with two leaders of Korea’s maritime cluster, it was a meaningful project, to which we contributed our expertise.

“The wind propulsion for ships is an effective solution, which helps meeting the IMO regulations for greener shipping. DNV GL is ready to deliver a wide range of related services for further projects.”

In December last year, DNV GL and shipbuilder HHI Group presented results of joint research on the development of modern future-proof tanker designs.

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