Union Maritime’s newbuild tankers achieve regulatory milestoneBAR Technologies and
Union Maritime have secured formal approval from the Republic of the Marshall Islands Flag for their proposals concerning bridge visibility, navigational lights, and radar line of sight on two new dual-fuel LNG tankers equipped with WindWings wind-assisted propulsion systems. The approval, granted following a review by
Lloyd’s Register, marks a significant regulatory milestone for the integration of wind propulsion into large-scale commercial shipping.
The two LR2 tankers, currently under construction at
Yangzjhiang Shipbuilding and scheduled for delivery in early 2026, are the first of their kind to combine dual-fuel LNG propulsion with WindWings technology while meeting Solas requirements for navigational compliance. This achievement is the result of Project AeroPower, a collaborative initiative led by BAR Technologies and Union Maritime, which brought together key stakeholders to establish a global framework for the scalable adoption of wind-assisted propulsion.
Lukasz Brzoska, head of ocean-going vessels at BAR Technologies, said: “Securing this approval demonstrates that regulatory compliance and WindWings technology adoption is progressing together at pace. With these welcome confirmations from both flag and class, we are moving rapidly towards the introduction of these newbuilds into service.”
Laurent Cadji, managing director at Union Maritime, added: “Building on the proven success of Brands Hatch, this approval represents a landmark step as we integrate WindWings with dual-fuel LNG propulsion in our next generation of tankers. Together with our partners, we are proud to be at the forefront of this transition, demonstrating the commercial viability of sustainable solutions that will help our industry meet its decarbonisation goals at scale.”
WindWings and dual-fuel LNG David Wamsley, the Marshall Islands maritime administrator, said: “The Republic of the Marshall Islands maritime administrator worked closely with Lloyd’s Register in granting Solas approval for these proposals on bridge visibility and navigational compliance. Ensuring compliance with Solas while also accommodating advanced systems such as WindWings and dual-fuel LNG reflects our commitment to supporting technologies that enhance safety, efficiency and environmental performance across the global fleet.”
The approval builds on the operational success of Union Maritime’s Brands Hatch, the world’s first newbuild tanker fitted with WindWings, which recently completed her maiden voyage to Europe. In favourable conditions, the vessel achieved more than a third of her propulsion from wind power alone while fully laden, replacing over 12.8 tonnes of fuel in a single day and avoiding approximately 40 tonnes of CO
2 emissions.
With this latest development, Union Maritime and BAR Technologies are extending WindWings into a new vessel class, demonstrating how dual-fuel LNG and wind-assisted propulsion can work in tandem to accelerate maritime decarbonisation. The project highlights the importance of collaboration between shipyards, class societies and flag administrations in scaling proven efficiency technologies to meet international regulatory frameworks and growing commercial demand for sustainable shipping solutions.