Certification News

The UK-flagged research vessel Prince Madog has received certification for a hydrogen fuel cell retrofit, following approval by Lloyd’s Register (LR) under its ShipRight Risk Based Certification (RBC) framework. The certification was presented at Seaworks 2026 in Southampton.The project, delivered by vessel owner O.S. Energy’s Naval Architecture and R&D office in collaboration with hydrogen and clean energy systems specialist Ecomar Propulsion, included the development of the vessel’s gaseous hydrogen storage system and the detailed integration design of the associated fuel cell…

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) have completed a joint development project for a high-efficiency 16,000-TEU ultra-large container ship equipped with a battery hybrid system.ABS awarded approval in principle (AiP) to HD KSOE and HD HHI for the vessel's electrical analysis and electrical design following design reviews conducted in accordance with class requirements.The project…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Japan Airlines (JAL) have entered into an agreement with Lloyd's Register and U.S.-based REGENT Craft to jointly develop certification and operational approval processes for REGENT's fully electric Seaglider vessel, as the companies work toward commercial deployment in Japan.The initiative marks the first collaboration in Japan involving a classification society aimed at supporting the commercialization of Seaglider vessels.Seagliders are fully electric wing-in-ground effect craft that operate a few metres above the water surface using ground effect.

India's ship safety certifier is taking a tougher stance on vessels involved in evading international trade sanctions, by cancelling the certification of more than 200 tankers and other ships since 2023, the head of the agency told Reuters.The Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) is among the world's leading ship certifiers and removal from its list is likely to complicate a vessel's ability to secure insurance and potentially access ports.Since 2023, Mumbai-based IRClass has de-classed 235 ships from its registry…

bound4blue has received Type Approval Design Certification (TADC) from DNV for its Model 3-24 eSAIL, the company’s largest and most powerful installed suction sail. The approval, formally presented during a handover ceremony at last week’s Posidonia in Athens, confirms the system’s compliance with DNV’s classification requirements for safety, structural integrity, and design robustness.bound4blue’s Model 3 range is designed for larger vessels and projects looking to maximize the possible propulsive contribution from wind power. Units range from 24 meters to 36 meters in height.

Anemoi Marine Technologies and its partners have completed a joint development project aimed at simplifying the integration of Rotor Sail wind propulsion systems on medium-range (MR) tankers, with classification society DNV granting Approval in Principle (AiP) for the design.The project was developed in collaboration with Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) and tanker operator Hafnia and focused on integrating two folding, explosion-rated Rotor Sails into an MR tanker design.The…

DNV has awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for an independent Type B LPG cargo tank design for very large gas carriers (VLGCs).The approval covers HHI's design for a 90,000-cubic-metre independent Type B containment system for LPG carriers.According to DNV, the use of Type B tanks in VLGCs is intended to improve operational safety and maintenance accessibility throughout a vessel's service life, while providing greater flexibility in the…

RINA, the inspection, certification and consulting engineering multinational and Baker Hughes, an energy technology company, announced that RINA awarded a Type Approval certification to Baker Hughes for its NovaLT 16 gas turbine technology, specifically to operate on natural gas and up to 100% hydrogen for marine propulsion applications.The certification was announced during Posidonia 2026 in Athens, Greece. This milestone marks a step in the ongoing collaboration between RINA and Baker Hughes to explore the use of advanced gas turbine technology in the maritime sector…

U.S. autonomous vessel developer Saronic has entered a strategic partnership with Lloyd’s Register (LR) to support the safe deployment of autonomous maritime systems in the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia.The companies said the collaboration would focus on advancing technical standards, regulatory guidance and classification pathways for autonomous surface vessels.Saronic said it would pursue classification activities for its autonomous vessels with LR as part of the agreement.

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has granted an Approval in Principle (AiP) to Wison New Energies for a harsh-environment floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) design featuring an internal turret mooring system.The FPSO concept is aimed at offshore developments in demanding metocean conditions, where internal turret systems are commonly used but involve complex integration between hull, mooring, risers and topside systems.LR said the concept-stage review helps reduce technical…

DNV has been appointed independent certifier for the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) CO2 transport and storage project in the UK.The project underpins the UK’s East Coast Cluster and will transport CO2 from industrial emitters in Teesside for storage beneath the southern North Sea.DNV will verify that construction and operations comply with the CO2 transport and storage license granted by the UK government.The scope of work includes the full transport chain, from CO2 receipt…

RINA has granted an Approval in Principle (AiP) to ST Engineering Marine for a retrofit concept involving a hydrogen-powered fuel cell system on a fast passenger ferry.The approval covers the replacement of one auxiliary diesel generator on the Asean Raider I ferry with a hydrogen fuel cell system supported by lithium-ion batteries.The concept is designed to reduce carbon emissions while maintaining safety, performance and regulatory compliance, RINA said.The assessment was conducted…

US West Coast-based maritime company Minke Marine A.L. LLC has secured its second class society Approval in Principle (AiP) from ClassNK for its air lubrication sector (ALS) with a new patented design.The ClassNK AiP follows a similar AiP secured by Minke with DNV. The latest AiP comes as Minke Marine began receiving verified data from its first installation on a 55,000 DWT DNV-classed, Norwegian-owned general cargo vessel. Costing less than $485,000 to install, Minke said the initial data shows a positive fuel saving…

Swiss marine power company WinGD has completed both Type Approval Testing (TAT) and Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) of its ammonia-fueled two-stroke marine engine, marking a milestone in efforts to decarbonize shipping.The test programs were completed in January 2026 on the X52DF-A-1.0 engine at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Engine & Machinery (HHI-EMD) facility in South Korea. The tests were witnessed by classification society Lloyd’s Register together with representatives from major classification societies…

Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore has launched an Offshore Center of Excellence in Asia Pacific to support offshore energy projects.The center will combine regional teams in Singapore, Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur with the company’s global technical network to support oil and gas and offshore renewable energy developments.The initiative comes as offshore projects increase in scale and complexity, requiring coordinated expertise across multiple disciplines and supply chains.Bureau Veritas said the center will provide a single hub for services including classification…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and its partners have secured approval in principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for the basic design of an unmanned autonomous rocket recovery vessel.The project is being developed with Innovative Space Carrier and TSUNEISHI SOLUTIONS TOKYOBAY.The approval covers the overall offshore recovery system, including the recovery vessel, a support vessel and an onshore control system.MOL said the concept is designed to support offshore rocket…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has secured an approval in principle (AiP) from ClassNK for the basic design of specialized vessels to joint and bury subsea power cables.MOL is working with Sumitomo Electric Industries, Furukawa Electric and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) to develop fundamental technologies-including a new type of cable-laying vessel-as part of a project subsidized by the Japanese government's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).One of MOL's roles in this project is to develop technologies for cable jointing and burial vessels…

ClassNK has granted Approval in Principle (AiP) for the design of a liquefied CO2 carrier intended to support a floating offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) injection facility.The vessel is designed to serve a Socket SPAR unit, a floating injection system being considered for deployment in deepwater environments where subsea pipeline-based CO2 storage is not feasible.The certification confirms the feasibility of the carrier design from regulatory and safety perspectives…

Yanmar Power Solutions Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Yanmar Holdings, has become the first engine manufacturer in Japan to obtain both type approval certificate1 and NOx certificate2 from Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) for its pilot-ignition hydrogen-fueled 4-stroke high-speed engine for power generation for domestic coastal vessels as part of the Nippon Foundation’s Zero Emission Ships Project.In 2025, Yanmar Power Solutions was intensifying its land-based demonstration tests utilizing a small amount of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as a pilot fuel…

DNV has granted a Type Approval Design Certificate (TADC) to CSSC Shanghai Marine Energy Saving Technology (CMES-Tech) for its new 35-meter tilting type wind assisted rotor system.This is the first domestically developed rotor sail system in China to achieve this recognition under DNV’s WAPS rules (ST-0511). With this certification, the system is confirmed ready for installation on DNV classed commercial vessels and marks a major milestone for China’s green-shipping technology industry.As shipping faces mounting pressure from fuel costs and emissions regulations…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has obtained an approval in principle (AiP) from classification society ClassNK for a liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carrier design equipped with wind-assisted propulsion systems.The vessel, developed with Samsung Heavy Industries, is designed to transport liquefied CO2 and incorporates three Wind Challenger units, a rigid sail system that uses wind power to assist propulsion.The approval covers a design with a cargo capacity of about 40,000 cubic meters intended…

Saipem has obtained ISO 55001:2024 certification, the international standard for asset lifecycle management, marking a significant milestone in its journey towards operational excellence and offshore sustainability.The certification, issued by DNV, confirms Saipem’s Asset Management system compliance with the most advanced requirements, covering all operational phases - design, procurement, installation, commissioning, maintenance and decommissioning, ensuring a robust and effective “Asset Integrity” framework.The certification applies to Saipem’s entire offshore asset portfolio…

Japan’s ClassNK has issued an approval in principle (AiP) for a bulk carrier concept developed by Oshima Shipbuilding that is designed to be ready for multiple alternative fuels, including ammonia, methanol and liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS).The approval confirms the technical feasibility of the vessel from a regulatory and safety perspective and reflects growing industry efforts to future-proof newbuilds amid tightening emissions rules.The concept design was reviewed in line with ClassNK’s updated Guidelines for Ships Using Alternative Fuels…