RINA Awards First-Ever AiP For Energy Harvesting Ship Concept

RINA awarded an approval in principle (AiP) to Drift Energy for its energy-harvesting ship concept, the first such certification granted for this type of vessel.

The AiP also shows the collaboration between Drift and RINA to assess the technical and safety aspects of the vessel design.

Drift Energy is a UK-based startup which is developing vessels designed to generate, store and transport clean energy at sea.

The company said this is a major achievement and is a step towards full plan approval and eventual construction of what it calls a net-positive vessel.

“Our ships are set to play a pivotal role in the global energy transition,” said Ben Medland, the founder and CEO of Drift Energy.

“The AiP validates the vessel’s feasibility from a class perspective and is a key step toward full plan approval.”

The vessels are made to harness ocean wind with the help of hydro-kinetic turbines installed beneath the hull.

Electricity generated onboard is then converted into green hydrogen through electrolysis and stored for delivery to ports.

The company’s routing system, known as Goldilocks, uses AI to identify and follow optimal weather patterns, which allows maximum energy generation.

The ships are intended to support energy supplies for coastal and island regions and also those industries facing difficulties in decarbonisation due to grid limitations or limited access to renewable energy sources.

“This approval in principle underscores RINA’s commitment to supporting the safe and credible development of innovative vessel concepts that contribute to the energy transition,” said Patrizio Di Francesco, North Europe special projects business development manager and principal engineer at RINA.

Drift plans to launch its first vessel in 2027 and move toward series production, with an existing orderbook of over 30 ships.