Anemoi secures Bureau Veritas approvals to reduce Rotor Sail deployment risk

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Anemoi Marine Technologies has secured design assessment certificates from Bureau Veritas for several versions of its Rotor Sail technology, expanding the independent classification coverage available to shipowners considering wind assisted propulsion.

The latest approvals cover fixed and rail deployed Rotor Sails measuring 3.5 metres by 24.5 metres. They include explosion protected versions and shorter configurations designed for vessels operating with air draft restrictions.

Anemoi is also progressing applications for Bureau Veritas approval of its larger fixed and folding Rotor Sails, which measure 5 metres by 35 metres.

The certifications mean Anemoi’s full Rotor Sail portfolio is now covered by approvals from major classification societies, including Bureau Veritas, Lloyd’s Register, DNV and ClassNK.

Classification approvals confirm that equipment can be manufactured, installed and operated in line with recognised marine safety and engineering standards.

For shipowners, that independent review can reduce the amount of additional assurance, testing and technical assessment required for each installation. It can also provide a clearer approval route for shipyards, naval architects, insurers and flag authorities involved in newbuild and retrofit projects.

Why does that matter for wind propulsion? Installing a Rotor Sail involves more than placing equipment on deck. Structural loads, electrical systems, hazardous areas, visibility, stability and vessel operations must all be assessed before a project can proceed.

Approval across several classification societies allows the technology to be considered for a wider range of vessel fleets without requiring owners to begin the technical validation process from the same starting point each time.

Anemoi said its Rotor Sails are already operating on vessels classed by several classification societies and across different vessel types and operating conditions.

The company supplies fixed, folding and rail deployed systems. Rail deployment allows the sails to be repositioned on deck, while folding systems can lower the units where overhead clearance or cargo handling requirements make a permanently upright installation impractical.

Clare Urmston, chief executive of Anemoi Marine Technologies, said the latest approvals reflected the company’s progress in technical development and commercial deployment.

“These latest approvals highlight how Anemoi is advancing in both technical maturity and scale of deployment, while continuing to focus on easing implementation for shipowners,” Urmston said.

She added that verification from Bureau Veritas and other classification societies was an important part of building confidence in the company’s systems and supporting wider adoption of wind assisted propulsion.

The approvals also reflect work by Anemoi’s engineering team to meet the separate technical requirements applied by multiple classification organisations within a relatively short period.

Anemoi said securing approvals across several class societies would help lower barriers for Rotor Sail installations on both existing vessels and new ships, particularly where owners are seeking technologies that can reduce fuel consumption and emissions without replacing the vessel’s primary propulsion system.