Marine Vessel Lightweighting (MariLight)
Lead Participant:
MALIN MARINE CONSULTANTS LIMITED
Abstract
The marine transport industry contributes towards 940m tonnes of CO2 emission annually(2.5% of the global greenhouse emissions). The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is committed to reducing emissions from international shipping and is working to phase them out. Its initial strategy identifies technological innovation as integral to achieving the overall ambition, whilst introducing rules requiring ships to be designed and built in an energy-efficient fashion, measured by the [Energy Efficiency Design Index][0] (EEDI).
In the UK there is considerable emphasis on reducing emissions to reach greener maritime transport solutions, with the stated target of decarbonising all sectors to achieve 'net zero' by 2050\. This will be accomplished by progress in many aspects of design and operation, but the starting point will be **minimising ship weight and power demand**, **improving underlying vessel efficiency** so that new propulsion technologies will have the most significant impact.
From a practical perspective, it is critical to address inefficiencies in existing design and manufacturing processes that prevent industry growth, making best use of Industry 4.0 developments to increase process automation, improve quality, reduce manual activity, and enhance working conditions.
The MariLight project will achieve this, providing the marine industry with initial steps to move from conventional, manual fabrication that requires labour-intensive work, to an automated and flexible manufacturing route, with potential to deliver complex designs through **topology optimisation design and Large-scale Additive Manufacturing (LSAM).**
Expected benefits include:
\***13% vessel weight saving,**
\***global fleet savings of 7.7m tonnes of steel,**
\***90% manufacturing lead time reduction,**
\***60% production fuel/energy savings,**
\***20% reduction in production time.**
This feasibility study will demonstrate a transformative design and manufacturing process route that reduces current shipbuilding manufacturing environmental impact by **60%, providing \>10% emission savings throughout a standard 30-year service life.**
Led by **Malin Group**, MariLight will generate a robust Business Case, detailing features such as lightweighting, CO2 reduction, and cost benefits to inform not only the marine industry, but also other industry sectors. This will be achieved by introducing topology-optimised design and regulatory frameworks to produce **lighter shipbuilding components** utilising LSAM techniques.
The extensive expertise from the consortium also composed of **Altair Engineering, BAE Systems, Lloyd's Register, and the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS)**, the project will permit achieving reliable outcomes that can be exploited by different markets (e.g., automotive, Oil & Gas), providing the UK with opportunities to be more competitive and diversified, whilst creating jobs in highly skilled areas.
[0]: https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Environment/Pages/Technical-and-Operational-Measures.aspx
In the UK there is considerable emphasis on reducing emissions to reach greener maritime transport solutions, with the stated target of decarbonising all sectors to achieve 'net zero' by 2050\. This will be accomplished by progress in many aspects of design and operation, but the starting point will be **minimising ship weight and power demand**, **improving underlying vessel efficiency** so that new propulsion technologies will have the most significant impact.
From a practical perspective, it is critical to address inefficiencies in existing design and manufacturing processes that prevent industry growth, making best use of Industry 4.0 developments to increase process automation, improve quality, reduce manual activity, and enhance working conditions.
The MariLight project will achieve this, providing the marine industry with initial steps to move from conventional, manual fabrication that requires labour-intensive work, to an automated and flexible manufacturing route, with potential to deliver complex designs through **topology optimisation design and Large-scale Additive Manufacturing (LSAM).**
Expected benefits include:
\***13% vessel weight saving,**
\***global fleet savings of 7.7m tonnes of steel,**
\***90% manufacturing lead time reduction,**
\***60% production fuel/energy savings,**
\***20% reduction in production time.**
This feasibility study will demonstrate a transformative design and manufacturing process route that reduces current shipbuilding manufacturing environmental impact by **60%, providing \>10% emission savings throughout a standard 30-year service life.**
Led by **Malin Group**, MariLight will generate a robust Business Case, detailing features such as lightweighting, CO2 reduction, and cost benefits to inform not only the marine industry, but also other industry sectors. This will be achieved by introducing topology-optimised design and regulatory frameworks to produce **lighter shipbuilding components** utilising LSAM techniques.
The extensive expertise from the consortium also composed of **Altair Engineering, BAE Systems, Lloyd's Register, and the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS)**, the project will permit achieving reliable outcomes that can be exploited by different markets (e.g., automotive, Oil & Gas), providing the UK with opportunities to be more competitive and diversified, whilst creating jobs in highly skilled areas.
[0]: https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Environment/Pages/Technical-and-Operational-Measures.aspx
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| MALIN MARINE CONSULTANTS LIMITED | £47,945 | £ 28,767 |
Participant |
||
| LLOYD'S REGISTER EMEA | £23,000 | £ 11,500 |
| ALTAIR ENGINEERING LIMITED | £58,473 | £ 29,236 |
| INNOVATE UK | ||
| UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE | £143,959 | £ 143,959 |
| BAE SYSTEMS SURFACE SHIPS LIMITED | £19,141 |
People |
ORCID iD |
| Chris Dunn (Project Manager) |