Lloyd's Register Clears Design Appraisal for Wind-Assisted LNG Carrier

A new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier design that incorporates four wind-assisted sails has cleared a key technical milestone. The HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines concept, known as the Wind Challenger, has been granted design appraisal by Lloyd's Register.

The design features a fore-accommodation arrangement, where the accommodation block and bridge are located at the bow of the vessel to create space for the wind-assisted propulsion system. This allows for greater flexibility in the number, size, and placement of sails to maximize wind-assisted propulsion performance.

Andy McKeran, Chief Growth Officer at Lloyd's Register, commented: 'As LNG carrier designs continue to evolve, the industry needs robust technical frameworks to assess new technologies and configurations.'