Wind power meets tanker design

Capital Ship Management Corp, K Shipbuilding and Lloyd’s Register (LR) have launched the initiative to assess whether Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS) can improve efficiency in standard tanker operations while preserving cargo capacity and operational flexibility.

“Wind-assisted propulsion has already demonstrated its potential to improve vessel efficiency, but wider adoption will depend on proving that the technology can deliver commercial value in mainstream shipping sectors. The MR tanker market is an important test case,” said Theo Kourmpelis, global business director for Tankers at Lloyd’s Register.

Combined expertise

The project focuses on addressing the engineering, regulatory and commercial challenges of integrating wind-assisted technology into the Medium Range tanker sector.

It’s a collaboration which combines Capital Ship Management’s operational expertise, K Shipbuilding’s ship building and tanker construction capabilities and LR’s technical assurance and regulatory knowledge.

The partners will undertake technical studies, design optimisation and regulatory assessments to support future Approval in Principle (AiP) activities and establish a route towards commercial deployment.

The signing of the Joint Development Project represents the first phase of a wider technical programme examining the operational, engineering and regulatory considerations of wind propulsion in MR tanker design.

Together, the partners aim to demonstrate that wind-assisted technology can provide measurable efficiency improvements while supporting compliance with evolving environmental requirements.

Capital Ship Management said the project builds on its decision to specify Wind-Assisted Ready notation on six MR newbuildings delivered in 2023, while K Shipbuilding said the collaboration will strengthen its capability to develop next-generation eco-friendly vessels for the global MR tanker market.