Consultancy & Research Projects

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:

VentoFoil XL sustainable wind propulsion for sea-going vessels

The ‘VentoFoil XL sustainable wind propulsion for sea-going vessels’ project is co-funded by the European Union and stems from the major development opportunities recognized in the ‘Green & Digital Maritime Innovation Ecosystem North Netherlands’ (GDMIEN-NL) project.

This project further develops the VentoFoil technology for wind propulsion on ships. This ‘vertical aircraft wing with boundary layer suction’ converts wind power directly into thrust for the ship. In doing so, it reduces dependence on fossil fuels and reduces the environmental impact for ocean-going vessels.

The project involves scaling up from a small model to a new larger version for use on ocean-going vessels. A prototype of the 30m VentoFoil XL will be developed, built, tested and demonstrated at sea. In the process, a fully digital control system based on AI technology will be developed and tested.

Read more about VentoFoil XL sustainable wind propulsion for sea-going vessels’

Green and Digital Maritime Innovation Ecosystem Northern Netherlands

A consortium of 21 technology developers, shipping companies, shipyards, suppliers, laboratories, universities of applied sciences, and the University of Groningen is planning to lead the way in the transition to large-scale zero-emission shipping and digital shipbuilding.

This project creates the innovation ecosystem from which new cooperation structures are developed around at least four innovative technologies for the transition from fossil to renewable energy:

Full electric propulsion on renewable Redox Flow battery technology
Large-scale production of VentoFoils XL, wind propulsion units for ships
Sailing on hydrogen (H2) by ‘marinising’ fuel cells of 500 – 3000 kW
CO₂ capture and liquefaction installations on board LNG-powered ships

Read the press release

EverLoNG

The EverLoNG project, led by TNO will demonstrate Ship Based Carbon Capture on board two LNG-fuelled ships, owned and operated by project partners TotalEnergies and Heerema Marine Contractors. With its results the project aims to bring the technology closer to market readiness.

Read more about EverLoNG

The programm includes six work packages researching how to optimise the technology and consider how best to integrate it into existing ship and port infrastructure. We contribute as a partner in all six work packages, where we take the lead in work package 3:

Impact of SBCC on ship infrastructure
In this work package we investigate the integration of SBCC technology on board ships and its flexibility for large-scale use in multiple scenarios.

The effect of ship motion on CO2 capture is a crucial one for SBCC’s development pathway. The technology brings additional challenges to both ship design and ship systems, such as deck space, extra weight, impact on the LNG vaporisation process and onboard heat management. These are key research questions being investigated by work package 3, with our findings providing guidelines on retrofitting SBCC or integrating it into newbuild ships.

EverLoNG is a three-year international research initiative involving the maritime, R&D and engineering sectors and co-funded by the ERA-NET ACT3 programme, project number 327332.

Robotized ‘Shared Facility’

“This is the momentum in which the Northern maritime sector recognises that cooperation is necessary to secure the future,” says Egbert Vuursteen, CEO of Royal Wagenborg and chairman of the Groninger Maritime Board.

The ‘Shared Facility’ project is initiated by the Groninger Maritime Board (GMB) and is being carried out by the GMB Foundation, Conoship International, FME and Marstrat, in cooperation with numerous shipyards and suppliers from the Northern maritime sector. This project will investigate how robotization can be applied in the shipbuilding industry in the North in order to improve the productivity of the entire chain.

Read more about robotized ‘Shared Facility’.

LNG ZERO

The LNG-ZERO project includes the development of a complete cycle for the application of an advanced LNG-ZERO concept, which was originally introduced by TNO. To do this successfully, we combine efforts of the energy and infrastructure developers (Shell, Carbon Collectors, end users (Heerema, Anthony Veder) and important suppliers & system integrators (VDL AEC Maritime with Carbotreat, Conoship International). TNO, along with the technical universities of Twente and Delft, are the research partners working on the eco topics. Safety and performance standards will be developed in conjunction with Lloyd’s Register.

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:

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 (easier to store and competitive with the diesel price) are being investigated. This project investigates the role biomethanol can play as a fuel for fuel cells.

Read more about this project (Dutch)

DerisCO2 (Carbon Capture)

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).

Read more about DerisCO2

CO2ASTS (CO2 capture, storage and transfer in shipping)

The feasibility study CO2ASTS 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, 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. The study is supported by a EU INTERREG subsidy.

Read more about CO2ASTS

CO2ASTS_On-board-Carbon-Capture-system-courtesy-of-MARIKO-GmbH

Read the full CO2ASTS report

MARVEL (Modular Arctic Research Vessel)

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.

Read more about Arctic Research Vessel MARVEL

Knowhow and disciplines

We are searching and developing knowledge and knowhow in a range of various disciplines, for example:

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis for hull lines optimization.
Hazard Identification (HAZID) studies and Failure Mode Effect Critical Analysis (FMECA) for LNG applications in vessels.
Feasibility studies for LNG, Methanol, Scrubber, SCR, Hydrogen applications for fleet owners.
Fleet development strategies and new ship-concept-development for shipowners.
Propeller design and optimization in relation to hull design, considering aspects like ventilation, Ice class & Polar Class design.
Wind assisted propulsion for cargo ships, both developing the eCONOwind©-unit and the related aspects of stability, trim and drift.
Draught and deadweight increase of existing general cargo vessels by application of new load line regulations and probabilistic damage stability.
‘Hatchcoverless’ studies for newbuilt and existing general cargo and project cargo vessels, supported by model testing.

Curious or do you have a innovative idea? Contact us to discuss what we can realise together!

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