Future Ship Design for Decarbonisation
Project Summary
Demand for shipping is likely to grow over the next three decades. The market and industry are considering decarbonization as part of their business strategy over the coming decades, in line with the IMO's ambition to reduce CO2 emissions from shipping by at least 50% by 2050 compared with a 2008 baseline. In the meanwhile, DNV Maritime Forecast 2050 (2022) discusses that Digitalization and Decarbonization are currently the most transformative forces in shipping, and the two topics are entwined - with digitalization enabling the decarbonization of shipping in several important ways including improved design (retrofits) and energy-efficient operation. It highlights that in the next decade, virtual ship models will become a standard tool for designing ships. The current wave of digitalization will transform the shipping industry and have a profound impact on the way we design and operate ships through DIGITAL TWIN opportunities (DNV Maritime Forecast 2050).
The primary goal of this project is to establish zero-emission shipping practices and create a virtual testbed to address future ship designs and retrofits. This will be achieved by developing a real-time Digital Twin (DT) for ship design and performance optimization. To ensure widespread adoption, an open architecture approach will be pursued, allowing both our reference group and external stakeholders to customize their own in-house DTs. By doing so, and through strategic partnership with RISE-Research Institutes of Sweden (Maritime department at RISE), we aim to advance research and education at the KTH's Naval Architecture Center, promoting the integration of Digitalization and Decarbonization in the maritime industry.
Our project's core objectives include analyzing the potential of Digital Twins in facilitating decarbonized ship design and developing modeling frameworks to drive practical innovations in future ship design. We will devise a methodology for applying Digital Twins to green ship designs. Validation will be performed using the Oceanbird 7-meter Wind-Assisted Propulsion Ship model, leveraging insights from previous projects at KTH and RISE. Real-time data collection during the operation of the Oceanbird model, implementing sails as a green shipping solution, will closely mimic onboard conditions. The digital twin will enable us to evaluate, optimize, and validate promising abatement measures and retrofitting options, supporting effective GHG reduction strategies in real-time ship operations, and advancing environmentally responsible maritime practices.
This project will push the boundaries of ship design, testing, and performance optimization, delivering a virtual testbed that incorporates a zero-emission shipping methodology. It will offer a next-generation solution for ship performance optimization through the implementation of digital twin technology. The key findings and outcomes will be widely disseminated through various channels, including media, networking, and publications. Notably, the project has garnered support and participation from renowned organizations such as DNV, Wallenius Marine, Alfa Laval (Oceanbird), Wallenius Wilhelmsen, and the Swedish Transport Agency, building on previous successful collaborations.
Project Purpose
P1: The primary purpose is to pioneer a sustainable green ship design paradigm by integrating digitalization and decarbonization. This will be achieved through the introduction of a methodology for applying digital twins in the design of green ships and the development of a digital twin for Wind-Assisted Propulsion Ships as a case study.
P2: The secondary purpose is to establish KTH's Naval Architecture Center and RISE as prominent Swedish knowledge hubs for Future Ship Design for Decarbonization. The project aims to direct KTH-RISE partnership as one of leading drivers of innovation and expertise in the maritime industry, both during and after the project, contributing significantly to a sustainable and environmentally conscious future for shipping.
Project Objectives
To achieve the abovementioned purposes of the project, several specific goals have been defined. Considering the project timeline and designed budget in the next sections, the main goals are in details specified and described below:
(A) To Explore Digital Twins Applications in Future Ship Design
This objective focuses on investigating the potential of Digital Twins (DTs) in facilitating emission reduction in shipping. It aims to propose a holistic and flexible DT architecture tailored for ship design and establish a robust DT application framework dedicated to this purpose.
(B) To Develop Digital Twin Based on the Developed DT Architecture and Application Framework as a Virtual Testbed for Future Ship Design
This objective entails the implementation of the developed general DT architecture and application framework for future ship design focusing on our test case, the Wind Assisted Propulsion Ship model (Oceanbird 7-meter model). The digital twin will be developed through a four-step iterative process, covering digital twin purpose, data acquisition and processing, modeling and simulation, and validation & verification. This step-by-step procedure will guide the digital twin's development.
(C) To Implement Digital Twins to Analyze the Impact of Decarbonisation Technologies in Future Ship Design
This objective involves the practical implementation of the developed digital twin. The digital twin is utilized to enhance ship performance during the basic ship design phase. Specifically, the twin analyzes the effects of sails on ship performance, leading to proposed solutions for improved design and successful integration of sails in future ships.
(D) To direct our research and education at the KTH's Naval Architecture Center and RISE towards entwining Digitalization and Decarbonization
This objective focuses on developing advanced AI/ML-based digital twins for green ship design, disseminating project results through various channels to enhance partnership's global visibility. Strong engagement with reference groups ensures active stakeholder involvement and fruitful collaborations. Training the next generation of researchers and engineers through updated master courses and involving PhD and master students directly contributes to achieving this objective. The ongoing endeavor strives to solidify the collaboration between KTH and RISE as a key strategic partnership in Sweden for advancing environmentally friendly ship design using digital twin innovations.
