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HD Hyundai Tests WindWings for LNG Carrier

[ September 18, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is working with BAR Technologies, Korean Register and the Liberian Registry to determine whether rigid wind sails can be incorporated into a 174,000-cubic-meter LNG carrier design, potentially extending wind-assisted propulsion into another major deep-sea vessel class.

The companies signed a joint development agreement Sept. 15 at Gastech 2026 in Bangkok to assess the technical feasibility, safety and regulatory compliance of installing BAR Technologies’ WindWings system on an HD Hyundai Heavy Industries LNG carrier.

A key element is HD HHI’s forward accommodation design. Moving the crew accommodation block toward the bow creates additional upper-deck space for installation of the large rigid wings.

BAR’s WindWings provide supplementary propulsion by automatically adjusting their camber and angle of attack to prevailing wind conditions, reducing demand on the vessel’s main propulsion system.

BAR Technologies said its system is already deployed across 10 bulkers and tankers, with 23 WindWings collectively reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 tonnes per day. The company estimates average fuel savings of about 1.5 tonnes per wing per day across global routes.

HD HHI will lead basic vessel design and design review, while BAR will provide data covering WindWings arrangement, structural strength, operating concepts and expected fuel savings.

Korean Register and the Liberian Registry will assess the design against applicable technical and international regulatory requirements. Korean Register said it will consider granting Approval in Principle following the assessment.

“Through this project, we aim to integrate wind-assisted propulsion technology into our forward accommodation LNG carrier design,” said Hongryeul Ryu, chief technology officer of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.

The project does not yet represent an LNG carrier order or a commitment to install WindWings. That’s important to keep clear. It’s an engineering and approval program aimed at determining whether the concept can progress toward commercial application.

Tags: BAR Technologies, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Korean Register, Liberian Registry