LR joins biggest wind-assisted cargo ship project

The classification society will provide compliance advice for the Quadriga sustainable shipping project, set up to build a car carrier designed to accommodate 1,700-2,000 cars.

Uwe Köhler, founder of the Quadriga project, an initiative from Hamburg-based Sailing Cargo, commented: “We must do the right thing for the future of our industry; the Quadriga project combines traditionally proven systems with cutting edge technology and aims to provide a solution to reduce CO2 emissions. We are delighted to be working with Lloyd’s Register on this project.”

Hybrid propulsion

The carrier will be equipped with four DynaRig masts and operate on hybrid propulsion with sails, diesel-electric engines and an optional battery system for peak loads.

It will be capable of sailing at 10-12 knots with the aim of reaching 14-16 knots in the next few years.

Wind-assisted propulsion offers a realistic option for introducing renewable power into shipping, said LR.

Low carbon ships

LR’s Low Carbon Pathways 2050 study found that low carbon ships will need to enter the fleet by 2030 in order for shipping to reduce its emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. LR said this means significant changes in the industry are required.

It stressed the consensus is that engineering advances alone will not be enough to produce technology on the scale needed to achieve the level of emissions reduction required.

Fuels will have to change and the Quadriga project provides one of the potential viable alternative solutions, LR added.

In addition to ensuring compliance with technical, safety and environmental standards, LR will also verify whether the predicted performance parameters on the project have been achieved.