Bureau Veritas Issues New Rules and Notations for Growing Number of Hybrid Vessels

Bureau Veritas has launched a new series of notations and rules addressing the requirements of ESS.
Image Credit: Bureau Veritas

Bureau Veritas S.A. (Bureau Veritas) today announced that, in response to a growing number of hybrid vessels entering service, the certification agency has launched a new series of notations and rules addressing the requirements of energy storage systems (ESS) "to support ship operators in reducing emissions."

The new rules and notations are said to provide a framework for electric and hybrid power solutions, with the notations covering power management (PM), power back-up (PB), and zero emission (ZE) standards.

"Industry uptake of hybrid and battery technology has been driven by environmental regulation. But owners are also finding performance benefits and, for some operations, significant financial benefits seem likely – particularly as the availability of renewable energy increases," said Martial Claudepierre, Business Development Manager at Bureau Veritas.

Claudepierre suggests that adoption of hybrid and battery technology is set to move beyond the cruise and ferry sector.

"Obvious candidates for ESS are cruise ships with high hotel loads when in port, ferries with regular port visits and tugs with heavy peak load requirements," said Claudepierre.

"Ships with relatively short voyages making regular port calls could plug into local power enabling access to electricity from renewable energy sources as well."

As Ship and Bunker has reported, Seaspan's this year took delivery of two new "state-of-the-art" ferries, which can run on diesel, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and battery power.

"We will see more of these hybrid solutions ordered and our new rules and notations will help ensure that these systems can be designed and operated safely and efficiently," said Claudepierre of the Seaspan vessels.