BUSAN — Development of next-generation eco-friendly ships that mount large wing-shaped sails on liquefied natural gas carriers to harness wind as auxiliary propulsion is moving into full swing. A shipbuilder, a classification society, a wind propulsion technology firm and a flag administration will jointly review safety and regulatory compliance from the design stage, testing whether wind-assisted propulsion can be commercialized on gas carriers.
The Korean Register (KR) said on the 16th that it signed a memorandum of understanding with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (329180), British wind propulsion technology firm BAR Technologies and the Liberian flag administration (LISCR) to jointly develop a 174K-class LNG carrier fitted with the WindWings wind-assisted propulsion system. The agreement was signed on the 15th at Gastech 2026 in Bangkok.
The vessel is a forward-accommodation LNG carrier developed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. By placing crew quarters toward the bow, the design frees up additional space on the upper deck, and the partners will study installing the large wing-shaped WindWings there. WindWings converts wind into propulsive force while a ship is under way, cutting engine fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
In the project, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will handle basic ship design and design review. BAR Technologies will provide technical data on the layout and specifications of WindWings, structural strength, operating concepts and fuel savings. KR and the Liberian flag administration will assess the vessel's safety and technical suitability based on relevant rules and international standards, and consider issuing an approval in principle (AIP).
Wind-assisted propulsion is already expanding, mainly on bulk carriers and tankers. According to BAR Technologies, 23 WindWings units have been installed on 10 ships, together cutting carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 tons a day. The latest cooperation draws attention as a first step in extending the technology to LNG carriers. LNG ships spend a large share of their time on long-haul voyages, making fuel efficiency a direct factor in operating economics.
"We will make the potential for applying wind-assisted propulsion technology to LNG carriers more concrete, and work with shipbuilders, technology developers and flag administrations to support the safe and reliable adoption of eco-friendly technologies," KR Chairman Lee Young-seok said.
