Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS) are increasingly being considered as a viable solution to reduce the fuel consumption and harmful emissions of merchant vessels, and both system size and the number of installations are steadily growing. A critical factor to safely exploit these systems is the vessel’s stability, which classification societies ensure through the use of additional minimum stability criteria for WAPS-equipped vessels. In contrast to those for motor vessels, for which the International Maritime Organization specifies standardised minimum criteria, there is n harmonised approach. This paper presents the results from a master thesis study analysing the intact stability of WAPS-equipped vessels and these existing additional criteria.

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