In what BAR Technologies describes as ‘a decisive milestone for maritime decarbonisation’, the company has secured a Bureau Veritas (BV) Type Approval Design Certificate (TADC) for its 37.5m WindWings wind-assisted propulsion system, eaning it is now validated for scalable fleet integration.
The certification is said to underscore the system’s engineering integrity, performance, reliability and commercial readiness. Following an extensive and detailed review by BV, the TADC confirms that WindWings meets stringent international standards across structural design, material selection, load handling and supporting control systems. This official endorsement offers shipowners and operators the assurance to adopt WindWings with confidence on BV-classed vessels, whether through retrofit or newbuild programmes.
The 37.5m WindWing features a patented three-element rigid wingsail configuration that is designed to deliver 2.5 times the lift of traditional single-element designs and does not require power for continuous spinning rotors nor suction fans seen in other technologies. With passive boundary layer control and a fail-safe feathering mechanism, each WindWing saves on average an estimated 1.5t of fuel and 4.7t of CO2e per day on global routes, which BAR claims offers the most impactful and commercially viable wind propulsion technology in the current marketplace.
Union Maritime Ltd (UML) is among the first to integrate WindWings under BV classification, with several vessel installations planned. These projects are considered a pivotal moment for the technology’s adoption and underscore the increasing enthusiasm within the shipping industry for proven zero-emission solutions.
Yannis Calogeras, BBV Marine Chief Executive, said: “Working with BAR Technologies on the WindWings project has been an exceptional example of what is possible when technical rigour meets innovative ambition. This certification reflects not only the integrity of the technology but also our shared commitment to a more sustainable maritime future.”
This approval follows BAR Technologies’ earlier TADC award from DNV, placing WindWings among the few wind-assisted propulsion solutions certified by more than one IACS-class society. It confirms WindWings’ readiness for widespread deployment, with a clear route now open across two major classification frameworks with more in the pipeline. WindWings will soon be classified by all major classification societies.
John Cooper, CEO BAR Technologies, said: “This latest certification is more than a technical tick box. It’s a rallying point for the industry. WindWings is now uniquely positioned to deliver measurable emissions reductions at scale. With Bureau Veritas and DNV certification, we’re enabling owners and operators to transition from intent to action.”
Image: John Cooper, CEO BAR Technologies (source: BAR)
