Anemoi Marine Technologies has appointed Claudene Sharp-Patel, technical director at Lloyd’s Register, to its Technical Oversight Committee, adding independent technical expertise to its wind-assisted propulsion programme.

Sharp-Patel will continue in her senior engineering role at Lloyd’s Register, a position she has held since 2022. She holds a chief engineer’s ticket and was the first woman in Australia to qualify for the role. Her seagoing career included service on bulk carriers and tankers with operators such as BHP, Shell and BP.

The Technical Oversight Committee reviews Anemoi designs and examines testing, production and operational processes to ensure safety, reliability and commercial performance. The group brings together senior Anemoi executives and external specialists who provide industry insight and qualified technical advice.

Lloyd’s Register has previously verified Anemoi’s performance prediction methodology for wind-assisted propulsion systems and has supported the integration of the company’s technology across a range of vessel types.

“This is a fascinating time to be involved in wind-assisted propulsion, as focus across the market shifts from proving feasibility to scaling up production and accelerating deployment. I look forward to supporting the development of Anemoi’s solutions and its installed base in this new advisory role,” Sharp-Patel said.

Clare Urmston, chief executive of Anemoi, said: “We are really excited to welcome Claudene to our Technical Oversight Committee. She brings a truly unique perspective that combines significant operational experience with a deep understanding of the rules, regulations and market drivers that Anemoi must factor into its next-generation rotor sail designs. With her insight, we can be confident of advancing our market-leading solutions even further.”

Anemoi, founded in 2015, designs and installs Flettner rotor sails on large commercial vessels, typically fitting three to five units per ship, each up to 35 metres high. The company says its rotor sails can deliver meaningful reductions in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions in operation.