en.Wedoany.com Reported - K Shipbuilding, Bound4blue, and Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) have signed a Joint Development Project (JDP) to jointly develop a new-generation LR1 tanker integrated with a Wind-Assisted Propulsion System (WAPS).

The collaboration focuses on designing and optimizing a 74,000 DWT LR1 tanker equipped with advanced wind-assisted propulsion technology, aiming to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and ensure compliance with increasingly stringent international environmental regulations.
Facing growing regulatory pressure and rising fuel costs, the maritime industry continues to seek innovative solutions to enhance operational efficiency and environmental performance. This JDP integrates the complementary expertise of the three partners, aiming to deliver practical, efficient, and commercially competitive vessel designs that align with future market demands.
K Shipbuilding leads the vessel design and development, including general arrangement, stability assessment, and integration of the WAPS foundation and related systems. Bound4blue provides expertise in wind propulsion technology, including system integration requirements and key performance deliverables. Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore is responsible for design review and verification activities, ensuring compliance with classification society rules and applicable international regulations, and will issue an Approval in Principle (AiP) upon project success.
The project also encompasses comprehensive technical assessments covering key aspects such as vessel stability, structural integrity, system integration, and operational safety. Through collaborative efforts, the parties aim to validate the technical feasibility and performance of the LR1 tanker equipped with WAPS, thereby enhancing its commercial appeal.
This JDP represents a significant step in the application of wind-assisted propulsion technology in the tanker sector, contributing to the maritime industry's decarbonization efforts and supporting the global transition toward more sustainable shipping solutions.
Tae-Hyun Koh, Technical Director of K Shipbuilding, stated that as demand for sustainable shipping solutions continues to grow, this JDP will further strengthen the company's capabilities in developing eco-friendly vessel technologies and enhance its competitiveness in the global LR1 tanker market. Daniel Mann, Commercial Director of Bound4blue, added that tankers are one of the areas where wind propulsion can make a practical impact, but each project must be built on a solid technical foundation; this JDP integrates vessel design, classification society review, and eSAIL integration experience from the initial stage, marking an important step in collaboration with K Shipbuilding and Bureau Veritas. Alex Gregg-Smith, President of Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, stated that this JDP reflects the strong partnership among the three parties and their shared commitment to developing innovative eco-friendly vessel designs, aiming to support the delivery of LR1 tankers that meet future market expectations and drive next-generation tanker solutions for the global maritime industry.
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