AYRO secures DNV GL AIP for its Oceanwings 3.6.3.
AYRO secures DNV GL AiP (Approval in Principle) for its Oceanwings® 3.6.3. wingsail propulsion system for ships.
Paris, February 15, 2021 (09:00 CET)
AYRO was recently awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) for its Oceanwings® 3.6.3 wind assisted
propulsion system for ships from DNV GL, a world’s leading classification society. The Oceanwings
3.6.3 system is designed to enable ship owners and operators to leverage wind energy to improve
the energy balance of individual vessels and fleets, thereby significantly reducing carbon emissions.
Following 10 years of research, a first prototype in 2017, and the industrial demonstrator Energy
Observer in 2019, AYRO continues the development and industrial process of their system with the
AiP from DNV GL. After a review of the main plans and documents of the Oceanwings 3.6.3 system
against the relevant DNV GL rules for the classification of ships, DNV GL was able to issue an AiP
statement confirming that no significant obstacles exist to prevent the concept from being realized.
As incoming maritime regulations are ramping up, the pressure to improve sustainability and
reduce emissions is increasing. The Oceanwings system enables the maritime stakeholders to
significantly reduce their greenhouse gases emissions and improve their EEDI or EEXI efficiency
index, as part of efforts to comply with the IMO 2030 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) strategy.
The wind propulsion system is a 363 square meter 2-elements wingsail several of which can be
installed on board cargo vessels. AYRO is now manufacturing four Oceanwings to be fitted on
“Canopée”, a RORO vessel under construction. This hybridization system for the propulsion of ships
is applicable for both newbuildings and in the retrofit of existing ships.
« This AiP award is a significant step in the development of AYRO and we are happy to have passed
the first step of the on-going certification process of our wingsail. This is the result of the work of the
entire technical team over the past few months. The Oceanwings® 3.6.3 are suitable for most types
of cargo vessels. We continue to receive a lot of enquiries and numerous requests for feasibility
studies from shipowners and charterers worldwide, for both retrofits and newbuilding projects. Our
mission and vision is to support them in designing their vessels as well as fitting and maintaining
the Oceanwings® in order to help them meet the challenges of competitiveness and GHG emission
reductions. ” says Ludovic Gérard, CEO.
“We are very pleased to be able to issue this AiP to AYRO for its Oceanwings 3.6.3 system,” said
Hasso Hoffmeister, Senior Principal Engineer at DNV GL – Maritime. “National and international
regulations, in addition to governmental, customer and public are all increasing pressure on the
industry to decarbonize. An AiP can help build confidence in shipowners and operators by
demonstrating that new technologies can not only help them improve sustainability, but follow
well established, trusted and independent standards.”
