Material Technology News

As part of its ongoing Aquarius Eco Ship Project, Eco Marine Power and Nakashima Propeller will explore the further use of carbo-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) and glass-fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) for ship structures and other maritime applications.Eco Marine Power will also investigate the use of CFRP propellers to improve energy efficiency and reduce underwater noise created by ship propulsion systems.CFRP & GFRP are composite materials that can offer a versatile and efficient solution for a range of ship structures by providing a balance of strength…

Two load-bearing pillars of Norway’s leading maritime industry cluster in Sunmøre on the country’s west coast – offshore energy and the expedition cruise sector – took severe knocks from plunging energy prices in the 2010s followed by COVID-19. However, a recent tour of the region found the cluster in recovery mode.At the time, the cluster’s diversification strategy was to dive into the emerging expedition cruise sector: small, highly sophisticated ships designed to operate in some of the world’s most sensitive environments incorporated features including the highest ice-class…

Dry bulk carrier owner and operator Oldendorff Carriers has signed a research agreement with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Center for Bits and Atoms (CBA) to make its vessels more green and economical.Oldendorff, together with CBA and its campus collaborators including MIT's Sea Grant Program, will investigate disruptive improvements in ship design and propulsion to achieve the IMO 2030/50 requirements.The initial emphasis will be directed at improving hydrodynamic efficiency, which builds on work CBA has been doing with the aerospace and automotive industries. This looks beyond traditional naval architecture to a deeper integration of form and function.Anticipated research areas include morphing structures…

DNV GL, the world’s largest resource of independent energy experts and certification body, has signed a comprehensive framework agreement with leading Chinese wind turbine blade manufacturer Zhuzhou Times New Material Technology (TMT).The deal covers a range of certification and design assessment services to ensure the quality of TMT’s new rotor blade products, and also gives the manufacturer access to the latest innovations through DNV GL’s Joint Industry Projects (JIPs).The growth of affordable wind power requires the development of larger and more efficient turbine rotor blades. Blade manufacturers are continually working to deliver these innovative new rotors to reduce the Levelized Cost of Energy…

International engineering, testing, certification and classification group RINA has reported improved results for 2013. Its performance was strengthened by an upturn in marine activities and a drive to improve efficiency and drive down costs. RINA turnover for 2013 increased 4% to €294 million, while EBITDA was up 6% to €37.2 million. Ugo Salerno, RINA Chairman and CEO said, “Returning confidence in the global marine markets and a new management team which took on their responsibilities with enthusiasm at all levels meant the group exceeded expectations in 2013.

A global manufacturer of polymer and syntactic foam-based solutions for the offshore oil and gas industry, Trelleborg officially opened its newly constructed facility in Macaé, Brazil, on 13th September 2012. To support offshore customers in their quest to reach greater subsea depths, the new facility boasts the largest hydrostatic pressure testing vessel in the world. Trelleborg’s President for Offshore and Construction, Fredrik Meuller, commented: “As a business we have a continued long-term strategy to invest in markets with encouraging growth potential.

SNAME announced its call for papers for its 2011 annual meeting November 16 – 18, 2011, in Houston , Texas.

ExxonMobil introduced a program to optimize cylinder oil feed rates in low-speed (crosshead) diesel engines. The "Feed Rate Optimization" program is designed to help minimize operating expenses by analyzing scrapedown oil as a way to detect changes in the condition of an engine¹s cylinders. The program, which is designed to help customers find a balance between the cost of cylinder oil and the expense of wear-related cylinder maintenance, analyzes scrapedown oil collected from the engine’s scavenge space, a technique pioneered by ExxonMobil. It is designed to provide comprehensive laboratory testing and analysis of the oil sample, and offers onboard testing tools that enable ship’s engineers to quickly detect substantive changes in cylinder condition.