Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV), a world leader in testing, inspection, and certification, awarded a range of Approvals in Principle (AiPs) during Gastech 2025, in Milan. These projects include LNG carriers, floating LNG units, LCO₂ transport, offshore wind substructures and digital ship design, which reflects BV's vital role in enabling the shipping and energy industries' transition to a low-carbon future.
LNG & LCO₂ Solutions
Following the completion of two Joint Development Projects (JDP), BV has awarded AiPs to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries for two new carrier designs, which include a 40K LCO₂ carrier and a 200K LNG carrier. By optimizing hull performance and maximizing cargo tank capacity, the new concepts deliver improved design efficiency and production advantages compared with existing 40K LCO₂ and 200K LNG carrier designs.
Paillette Palaiologou, Senior Vice President of Eastern Europe, Mediterranean Sea, Middle East, India and Africa (EMA), Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (third from right); Bill Chen, Deputy Chief Executive, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore China (second from left); Carlos Guerrero Pozuelo, Global Market Leader – Gas Carriers, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (second from right); and representatives from Hudong-Zhonghua.
To support the growth of LNG bunkering, BV has awarded an AiP to Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding for its 25,000 m³ LNG bunker vessel. Based on the MARK III containment system, it incorporates enhanced design pressure for greater operational flexibility. With growing demand for large-capacity LNG bunkering, the vessel has been designed to safely and efficiently support the fueling of next-generation LNG-powered ships.
Offshore Renewables
In the renewable energy sector, BV presented an AiP to Samsung Heavy Industries Cp., Ltd. (SHI) for its newly developed floating offshore wind turbine foundation, SnapWind Float. The innovative, cost-competitive semi-submersible structure is optimized for 15MW floating offshore wind turbines and delivers stability in harsh offshore conditions and offers a practical solution for large-scale floating wind developments that minimizes operational risk.
(From left) Sungyong Kim, Senior Marketing & Sales Manager, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore;
Byoung-Gark Park, FOWT Development Engineering Manager, Offshore Project EM Team, Samsung Heavy Industries; Christophe Vaes, Country Chief Executive of Korea, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore; Hae-Ki Jang, Chief Technology Officer, Samsung Heavy Industries; Theofanis Sallis, Head of IMEA – Gas Carriers, Centre of Excellence, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore; and Antonio Yoon, Vice President, Offshore Proposal Team, Samsung Heavy Industries.
Alternative Fuels
In continuing to support the development of ammonia as a next-generation marine fuel, BV awarded an AiP to Hanwha Ocean and Naftomar for a jointly developed ammonia-fuel-ready Very Large Ammonia Carrier (VLAC) design. Capable of operating on both LPG and ammonia, the concept incorporates advanced safety features for ammonia fuel supply systems, bunkering, containment, and leak detection, supporting the safe adoption of ammonia as a future marine fuel.
Digitalization
HD Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, with Siemens Digital Industries Software, has received an AiP from BV for a 3D model-based design approval process. Developed under a Joint Development Project and piloted on part of a 174K LNG carrier, the system sets a new benchmark for digital ship design by enabling approval directly on 3D models, accelerating approval cycles, reducing errors, and strengthening collaboration across design and production.
Hong-Ryeul Ryu, CTO of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (left) and Christophe Vaes, Country Chief Executive of Korea, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore.
Matthieu de Tugny, Executive Vice President, Industrials and Commodities at Bureau Veritas, said: “These diverse AiPs demonstrate the breadth of innovation that is designed to accelerate the global energy transition. By working alongside leading shipyards and technology partners, Bureau Veritas is supporting the development of solutions that set new benchmarks for sustainability, efficiency and safety. Together, we are ensuring that the industry is equipped to move with confidence toward a cleaner future.”
Source: Bureau Veritas