Lloyd’s Register (LR) has verified the sea trials performance assessment methodology used by GT Wings for its AirWing Jet Sail system. This provides an independent stamp of approval for the way the company measures fuel and emissions savings from its wind-assisted propulsion technology.

Announced at RINA’s Wind Propulsion Conference, the verification follows nearly 10 months of commercial operation of a 20m AirWing unit onboard Vectis Progress, a general cargo vessel operated by Carisbrooke Shipping. Installed in March 2025, the system has accumulated service experience across various routes and conditions, including North Atlantic winter passages, Great Lakes transits and Caribbean voyages.

Lloyd’s Register confirmed that GT Wings’ methodology aligns with recognised industry standards, including ISO 19030, and ITTC performance analysis practices, and that the approach used to isolate and quantify wind propulsion benefits is technically sound for in-service evaluation.

Andrew Hurford, senior specialist at Lloyd’s Register, said that independent verification of such methodologies is essential to building confidence in emerging maritime technologies.

As wind-assisted propulsion moves towards broader commercial adoption, the ability to demonstrate performance through independently verified, standardised methods is increasingly important for shipowners, charterers and project financiers weighing the business case for such systems. GT Wings said that data collection and analysis from Vectis Progress will continue as part of its ongoing validation programme.

Liam Campbell, chief commercial officer at GT Wings, said: “From the start, our vision has been to drive the transition through measurable, data‐driven performance. Lloyd’s Register’s verification confirms our alignment with international standards and validates that our performance predictions are grounded in real‐world evidence. It is an important step toward scaling wind‐assisted propulsion across global shipping and strengthening confidence in this technology as a viable pathway to reducing carbon emissions.”

This article appeared in News, TNA Mar/Apr 2026