REGIONAL FOCUS: DUTCH SHIPBUILDING

stage or through subsequent retrofit, of wind-assisted propulsion using Econowind’s VentiFoil sails. Hartel has committed to VentiFoils for the first of its newbuilds, and expects to thereby realise an additional gain in fuel efficiency in the order of 8-12%.

Conoship plans to augment the CIP offering with a 5,800dwt variant, currently under development. Whereas the 3600 and 3800 designs provide for the fitting of twin VentiFoils forward, at the fo’c’sle, the 5800 type is proposed with provision for three such sails along the port side.

A northern research consortium coordinated by Conoship International has examined the feasibility of a shared centre for robotised shipbuilding production. The completed report under the SHARED FACILITY initiative was handed over to the Groningen provincial authority in January 2023, and demonstrated that an automated, micro panel line would be technically, financially and organisationally feasible given sustained cooperation.

Conoship was partnered in the investigative project by the Groninger Maritime Board(GMB) Foundation, technology industry association FME and over 30 companies from the northern Netherlands’ maritime sector, including shipyards and equipment suppliers, plus specialists in automation and digitalisation. Consideration is now being given to a follow-up project, entailing the setting up of a pilot plant or Fieldlab, where companies and knowledge institutions could develop related production techniques for shipbuilding.

The Damen Shipyards Group has implemented a major new phase of business development focused on the offshore energy market. Part-and-parcel of the strategy, the design offering was recently augmented by the FLOW-SV vessel concept, addressing the challenging task of supplying and installing ground tackles for floating wind turbines and prepared for future operation on methanol. Indicative of its resources, Damen is currently undertaking the structural fabrication and outfitting of two high-voltage directcurrent(HVDC) offshore transmission topsides at its Mangalia yard in Romania.

A major investment is taking place at MARIN’s Wageningen establishment, by way of the construction of the new Seven Oceans Simulator centre(SOSc). Expected to be operational by 2024, SOSc will contribute to maritime safety and technology through realistically simulate the behaviour and interaction of ships and crews in challenging conditions and situations at sea.

Besides research into shipping safety, the virtual test facility will enable users to experience and validate the behaviour of newbuilds during the ship design phase, providing insights into the fundamental role of the crew and onboard cooperation. The centre will contribute to the development of innovative vessels offering the highest safety level in adverse sea conditions.

SOSc will feature spherical simulators giving wrap-around, upward and downward projection, with a moving bridge, and a laboratory incorporating VR/AR(virtual/augmented reality) technologies, plus human factor management and observation techniques.