Certification News

Korean Register (KR) has awarded a manufacturing process certificate to AM Solutions, a South Korean 3D printing solutions company, for its laser wire directed energy deposition (LW-DED)-based additive manufacturing repair technology. It marks the first time in Korea that KR has verified the safety and reliability of a process that uses additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, to repair damaged sections of metal structures. It also represents an important step in…

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has granted Approval in Principle (AiP) to Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and Conrad Shipyard for the basic design of a 12,000-cubic-metre LNG bunkering articulated tug-barge (ATB) planned for construction in the United States.The approval follows a memorandum of understanding between SHI and Conrad Shipyard to jointly develop and build LNG bunkering ATBs. ABS said it completed design reviews based on its class rules and applicable statutory requirements.The project is among the first initiatives announced through the Korea-U.S.

Seatrium has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore for its 30 MW Floating Data Centre (FDC) concept, marking a milestone in the development of offshore digital infrastructure designed to support growing demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing.The concept features a jetty-moored, non-propelled barge incorporating six independent 5 MW Data-In-A-Box modules, each integrating IT equipment, cooling systems, power distribution and supporting infrastructure in a modular design.The company said the concept combines modular construction…

Anemoi Marine Technologies has secured design assessment certificates from Bureau Veritas covering several versions of its Rotor Sail wind-assisted propulsion technology, expanding third-party certification of its product range.The approvals cover the company's fixed and rail-deployed 3.5-metre by 24.5-metre Rotor Sails, including explosion-rated (EX-rated) versions and shorter variants designed for vessels operating under air draft restrictions. Applications are also being progressed…

Classification society ABS has reviewed bound4blue's methodology for calculating Pwind values used to quantify the contribution of the company's eSAIL suction sails toward compliance with maritime emissions regulations.The review covered the company's methodology for producing aerodynamic force matrices used in Pwind calculations for the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and FuelEU Maritime compliance.bound4blue said the methodology combines computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling…

ClassNK announced that it has earned authorization from the French Government (Directorate general for Maritime affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture) to carry out surveys for French flagged vessels.With this authorization, ClassNK is now able to perform statutory surveys and issue certificates for French flagged vessels on behalf of the French Government, in accordance with the requirements of international conventions, including SOLAS, MARPOL, and the International Convention on Load Lines.

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has issued the first Type Approval Certificate for a 100% hydrogen-fueled, spark-ignited marine engine.The approval has been awarded to the hydrogen engine developed by BeHydro and confirms the design meets LR’s requirements for safety, performance and reliability in marine applications.The engine has been developed and tested at ABC Engines’ facility in Ghent and is designed to operate entirely on hydrogen, without the need for pilot fuels. This simplifies system design and removes onboard carbon emissions at source…

Italian engineering, certification and consulting company RINA has secured a contract to provide safety assessment services for Indonesia's Green Hydrogen Hub Project H2WATT, a key initiative being developed by PLN Puslitbang, the research and development arm of state-owned utility PT PLN.The H2WATT project is aimed at supporting Indonesia's energy transition through the development of an integrated green hydrogen ecosystem and forms part of the country's broader efforts to build a low-carbon energy framework.Under the contract…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…