BV grants AiP for lightweight rudder flap

The certificate was delivered as a result of the EU-funded project RAMSSES – Realisation and Demonstration of Advanced Material Solutions for Sustainable and Efficient Ships – which aims to expand the application and usage of innovative materials to build more efficient and sustainable ships.

RAMSSES was initiated to validate and fast track approvals on the usage of innovative materials to improve the life cycle performance of European built ships and maritime structures, assisting the industry to build more sustainable and efficient ships at pace, while reducing their environmental footprint and making the industry more competitive at a global scale.

Lightweight and other advanced materials were identified as technologies with high potential, but development for use in the maritime sector was lagging. The increased freedom of design of a composite rudder flap can improve hydrodynamic performance, lifetime and reduce maintenance cost.

An important aspect of RAMSSES was the role classification societies play in developing a more efficient and agreed upon standard risk assessment. Bureau Veritas defined a first draft of the approval process to be considered within the RAMSSES project, pioneering the safety and performance of new technologies.