Bureau Veritas (BV), a world leader in testing, inspection, and certification has delivered an Approval in Principle (AiP) to Chantiers de l’Atlantique for its innovative sailing propulsion system, Solid Sail, tailored for the large ships market.

Solid Sail is a 1,200 m² rigid sail made of composite panels assembled together, which was developed specifically for large vessels. The system overcomes the usual size limitations of standard fabric sails. Moreover, the rigidity of the sail panels induces less flapping and therefore increases the estimated life compared to a soft sail.

BV has been involved from the early stage. We delivered the AiP in line with our Rule Note for WIND PROPULSION SYSTEMS (WPS) – NR 206. We conducted an assessment of the Solid Sail’s design and system. This AiP assures the industry that this new technology can be safely used and is ready for the next phase of its development and installation on-board.

Increasing the energy efficiency of cruise ships and lowering their impact on the environment are two of the main objectives of “Ecorizon®”, Chantiers de l’Atlantique’s R&D pioneering 14-year old program dedicated to ship energy and environmental efficiencies. This final validation step paves the way for the commercialisation of Solid Sail and its installation on large cruise ships.

Frédéric Grizaud, Senior Vice President at Chantiers de l’Atlantique, said: “The concept of Solid Sail is the first of its kind, and is the most advanced and innovative solution of sailing propulsion of the large ships market. The integration on-board a passenger ship of such an innovative solution is only possible thanks to the tremendous collaborative work done with Bureau Veritas on its new rules on Wind Assisted Propulsion.”

Laurent Leblanc, Senior Vice President Technical & Operations at Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, commented: “The power of the wind, even if it is not always available, can make a significant contribution to GHG free ship propulsion and ship design. We are pleased to deliver this AiP to Chantiers de l’Atlantique, bringing trust in wind propulsion systems and supporting the GHG emission reduction of shipping more generally. That’s how we can help shape a better maritime world. We look forward to seeing the system in operation.”

As a classification society, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore works with industry players across the maritime industry, from offshore operators, to ship owners, to port authorities. We are committed to reducing our industry’s environmental impact, supporting stakeholders through their unique sustainability journey. We help clients comply with environmental regulations, implement green solutions onboard, measure decarbonization progress, and more.