The application of sustainable construction principles to shipbuilding is the goal of the Realisation and Demonstration of Advanced Material Solutions for Sustainable and Efficient Ships (RAMSSES) project. The four-year EU-sponsored initiative is a collaboration of 37 partners from 13 nations initiated to design a 70 m-long hull composed of fiber-reinforced composites.
Sustainable solutions such as lightweight construction techniques and advanced materials are in demand, as the
RAMSSES has the strategic objective to obtain recognition and an established role for advanced materials in the European maritime industry. Image credit: Evonik number of container ships in operation is constantly growing in response to the global volume of commercial trading. Ships equipped with the new hulls will be less expensive to operate relative to steel construction due to lower fuel demands or increased cargo capacity.
Fiber-reinforced composites don’t rust, and their excellent resistance to seawater will translate into a reduced need to renew protective finishes and extended maintenance intervals.
Engineers from Evonik of Germany will work to improve the impact resistance and fatigue behavior of the finished hull, to be made of fiberglass and vinyl ester resin. The consortium also includes leading shipbuilders such as Meyer-Werft, Papenburg and Damen Shipbuilding of the Netherlands. These organizations are joined by established parts and equipment manufacturers such as Becker Marine Systems of Hamburg, Germany.
