Archives
Freight News, Logistics, Sea
DNV Clears Way for Wide Wind-assist Deployment
[ July 17, 2026 // Gary Burrows ]Wind-assisted ship propulsion developer Econowind has received design approval from classification society DNV for its VentoFoil 3-Series suction wing, a milestone expected to simplify installation on DNV-classed vessels and accelerate adoption of wind-assist technology across the commercial shipping fleet.
The Type Approval Design Certificate confirms the 16-meter VentoFoil complies with DNV’s ST-0511 standard for wind-assisted propulsion systems, allowing shipowners and shipyards to integrate the technology without repeating a full design assessment for each project.
For operators, the approval reduces engineering complexity for both retrofit and newbuild projects while providing independent verification that the system meets established classification requirements.
Econowind said more than 150 VentoFoil units have already been sold, making the 3-Series its most widely deployed product. The system uses boundary layer suction technology to generate additional forward thrust from the wind, reducing fuel consumption, lowering emissions and helping shipowners meet increasingly stringent environmental regulations, including FuelEU Maritime requirements.
The system incorporates a tilting foundation that allows the wings to be lowered during port operations or severe weather, making the technology suitable for a broad range of vessel types.
Hasso Hoffmeister, senior principal engineer at DNV Maritime, said wind-assisted propulsion systems have expanded rapidly in recent years, with the number of vessels using the technology increasing fivefold since 2022 and surpassing 100 ships in operation.
The certification comes as shipowners continue evaluating wind-assist technologies alongside alternative fuels, energy-saving devices and operational measures as practical pathways to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions without requiring wholesale changes to vessel propulsion systems.
The first vessel expected to operate under the new approval is MS Heinz, managed by HS Schiffahrt.
