Oceanbird receives AiP from DNV for its first wing sail, Wing 560
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by Admin
Oceanbird, a 50/50 joint venture between Alfa Laval and Wallenius, on Wednesday (30 August) said it has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from classification society DNV for its first wing sail, Wing 560.
“This is an important milestone for Oceanbird in our quest to cut emissions from shipping,” Niclas Dahl, Managing Director Oceanbird, said in a statement.
The firm said discussions with DNV that led up to the AiP, started before there even was an Oceanbird concept. Even though Oceanbird was confident in the design, there were a few uncertainties.
“It is one of the first stiff wing sails that will tilt in hard winds as a safety feature, that gets an Approval in Principle. Therefore, it is reassuring that DNV supports our safety philosophy since we are now going from vision into realisation. In just a few months, we will begin to assemble our first full-scale wing prototypes, which will be onboard a vessel in about one year from now,” Niclas Dahl, Managing Director at Oceanbird, said.
An AiP is an independent assessment of a concept within an agreed framework, confirming that the design is feasible, and that no significant obstacles, so called showstoppers, exist to prevent the concept from being realised.
DNV have looked into how the wing could handle extreme conditions such as heavy wind loads, snow and ice loads and green sea (waves on deck). They have also investigated redundancies in system functionalities (trimming, reefing, folding, etc.), control systems, the foundation and machinery and electrical component functionalities.
“We’re pleased to award Oceanbird the AiP for their wind-assisted propulsion system (WAPS). Such systems hold promise in enhancing the efficiency of maritime operations, and partnerships like this play a significant role in moving the industry towards decarbonisation,” Hasso Hoffmeister, Senior Principal Engineer at DNV, said.
“With our extensive knowledge in this domain, DNV is eager to collaborate and foster the advancement of these innovations.”
Related: DNV: Wind propulsion for RoRo, RoPax and pax vessels
Photo credit: Oceanbird
Published: 4 September, 2023
