Research Projects
We initiate and participate in various research projects on regional (INTERREG Northern Netherlands & Germany), national and European level in the HORIZON 2020-program. Our aim in these R&D-projects is contribute to the development of prototypes and apply the innovations in the new designs for our ‘early adapting clients’.
In EU-projects we cooperate with Dutch partners such as MARIN (Maritime Research Institute), TNO and Delft University of Technology and European partners like Rolls Royce, Wärtsilä, Lloyds Register, Meyer Werft and many others.
Please find our latest research projects below:
Green Shipping Wadden Sea
The Green Shipping Wadden Sea program, coordinated by FME, is a collaboration between industry, knowledge institutions and ports to accelerate innovations for CO2-neutral and fossil-free shipping and facilities in the Wadden ports. The program includes ten pilot projects spread across the Wadden Sea ports. We are participating in the following pilot project that started immediately at the start of the program in 2020:
Development of maritime methanol systems
The storage of hydrogen on ships is a major challenge, which is why solutions to use biomethanol as an energy carrier are also being investigated. This is easier to store and competitive with the diesel price. This project investigates the role biomethanol can play as a fuel for fuel cells. The project develops energy systems for the professional charter shipping industry.
DerisCO2
The DerisCO2 project will contribute to the goal of a reduction of direct CO2 emissions from ships and other sea going units compared to current emissions, through capturing the carbon dioxide and temporarily storing it on board. The project is being implemented with a Topsector Energy subsidy from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs (TCCU118008).
CO2ASTS
The feasibility study CO2ASTS (CO2 capture, storage and transfer in shipping) focused on Ship Based Carbon Capture and Storage for inland and short sea shipping using LNG as a fuel with the objective of gaining insight into the main cost drivers and possibilities for minimising the costs per kg of CO2. This has been investigated and tested on the basis of three use cases. The results of the feasibilty study were presented at Europort 2019. The most important conclusion from the research, for a vessel such as the Ecodelta, is the good adaptability of an onboard carbon capture system through retrofitting due to the LNG as fuel and the space on board for the installation.
MARVEL
The Icewhale Foundation (IWF), based in The Netherlands, has initiated the realisation of the Icewhale Research Expeditions. Backed by a grant from NWO and in cooperation with TU Delft, TNO, and NIOZ, we produced a feasibility study and basic design of the unique Arctic Research Vessel “MARVEL”. This Modular Arctic Research vessel is specially designed and equipped to investigate in the hardly accessible drift-ice zone and to safely withstand the dynamic pressure of drifting ice under harsh weather conditions.
