Recycled CO₂ carbon composites for high-speed, carbon-negative marine vessels

Abstract This paper introduces a revolutionary naval architecture concept: two-level vertical airports integrated into combat vessels for enhanced Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL), Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL), and Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft operations. The proposed design leverages advanced structural engineering, electromagnetic launch systems, and AI-driven traffic management to create a paradigm shift in naval aviation capabilities. Through comprehensive analysis of structural dynamics, aerodynamic considerations, and operational logistics, we suggest the feasibility of implementing dual-level flight decks that may increase aircraft capacity by up to 2× while maintaining combat effectiveness. Key innovations include thermally- managed landing zones, integrated Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), and automated vertical transport mechanisms. The research establishes foundational principles for next-generation aircraft carriers capable of supporting diverse STOL/CTOL/VTOL platforms including Rafale-M, MiG-29K, F/A-18 Super Hornet, F-35B Lightning II, and V-22 Osprey.

This study examines the historical development of sailing warships from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, focusing on their technological innovations and strategic significance. It explores major naval engagements, shipbuilding techniques, and the organization of naval crews, highlighting the implementation of new tactical practices at sea. Particular attention is given to the gradual transition from sail-powered fleets to steam-powered vessels and its impact on the decline of traditional sailing warships. By integrating archaeological findings and historical sources, this research provides new insights into shipwrecks and naval architecture, emphasizing the interrelation of technology, strategy, and political power during the early modern period. Contemporary scholarly literature indexed by DOI is incorporated to support the analysis. Overall, the study offers a comprehensive understanding of naval history, presenting sailing warships as essential instruments of military, political, and economic influence. It establishes a foundation for further research on maritime technology, naval tactics, and the broader geopolitical role of warships.

This paper examines the work of two English shipbuilders, William and Francis Warden, who, at the behest of the Portuguese Crown, served as master shipwrights at the royal shipyards in Lisbon. Their contributions were pivotal in shaping the character of Portuguese shipbuilding and naval design during the first half of the eighteenth century, decades before similar developments would be seen in Spain, in what was referred to at the time as the ‘English manner’. Moreover, they played a key role in advancing the efforts aimed at the standardisation of a shipbuilding typology across the Atlantic in Brazil. Given that the activity of English shipbuilders abroad was not subject to the strict regulations of the Royal Navy Establishment's, this paper will both seek to define the new model introduced by the Warden and explore the extent to which the Portuguese Navy's pursuit of uniformity and efficiency was genuinely effective.

Fluid-structure interaction (FSI) is one of the most challenging methods, as it involves a strong coupling between fluid flow and structural response. At present, these interactions are primarily studied through advanced numerical investigation and computational modelling. In the area of naval architecture and ocean engineering, accurately predicting the structural response of a ship hull under wave loads is a critical requirement for ensuring the safety and performance of the ship. Conventional methods that treat fluid and structural domains independently fail to capture the coupled behaviour accurately, especially for lightweight composite structures that are more sensitive to hydrodynamic forces. This limitation has driven the increasing use of computational methods to solve the FSI problems with more detail. The motivation for this research is to identify and analyse the high stress areas of composite sandwich ship hull in waves by utilizing two-way FSI coupling between finite element method (FEM) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A time domain transient FSI coupled simulation has been performed to study the dynamic response of the ship hull, and to evaluate the critical areas with high stress values under the impact of sea waves at sea state-3. The structural integrity of the ship hull is verified by using failure criteria of composite laminate and foam. The results of the FSI simulation are compared with uncoupled analysis to verify the effectiveness of the fluid-structure coupling model.

The presented case study benchmarks a novel design approach for evaluating the survival function of multidimensional dynamic systems subjected to stochastic, nonstationary environmental loading, with particular focus on naval architecture. The proposed design methodology combines a novel log-integral concept of the Integrated Cumulative Distribution Function (ICDF) for accurate modeling of failure probabilities with the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method to simulate slamming forces on the vessel hull mid-section. The proposed design approach offers a robust tool for reliability and safety assessment of vessels and offshore structures, particularly in complex, nonlinear, adverse marine environments. A traditional four-parameter Weibull parametric fit is used to cross-validate the predicted design values. The combination of ICDF and SPH simulations may provide naval architects with a robust framework for enhancing the reliability analysis of marine structures under dynamic, rapidly changing loading conditions. The major novelty of this study lies in combining an SPH-based CFD approach with a successfully benchmarked novel probabilistic integral ICDF extrapolation scheme, which is particularly suitable for design when the underlying dataset is representative but limited in size. System performance or limit-state function depends on multiple random variables (e.g. load, resistance, and environmental factors). This method enables efficient estimation of extreme impact loads, thereby providing practical support for reliability-based design and operational safety assessment of high-speed craft undergoing underwater/above-water entry and exit processes under nonstationary sea conditions. Engineering relevance: assessing the reliability of high-reliability structures where failure probabilities P Failure are low (e.g. ≤ 10 − 6 ). Fundamental design concepts, such as the Most Probable Maximum (MPM) for non-Gaussian processes with clustering effects, are expressed in terms of a memory-modified mean up-crossing rate in a practical engineering context. The presented ICDF design scheme is shown to provide enhanced accuracy to the design values and P Failure estimates, when the underlying data sample is of limited size.

Two of the most environmentally critical and operationally challenging maritime environments anywhere in the world are the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf. The shallow waters and high salinity levels, along with unprecedented sea surface temperatures and growing traffic from commercial vessels, are presenting major challenges to conventional design concepts that are highly unlikely to overcome the challenges for ship designs. In addition, there are global environmental statutes and regional sustainability agendas, especially within the Middle East, which put a greater focus on greener and more efficient maritime practices. This paper presents an examination of sustainable ship design concepts, focusing specifically on the environment of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf. The present paper critically reviews major dimensions of ship design, such as ship optimization, propulsion systems, energy-efficient technologies, alternative fuels, and environmentally adaptable materials, through a comprehensive review of recent developments in naval architecture with an analytical synthesis of advances made in marine engineering and sustainable technologies. Furthermore, this research also identifies the applicability of new concepts of sustainable ship design regarding international maritime legislation and regional policy, considering sustainability factors involved with regional economic and environmental growth. The research shows that fuel efficiency, emission reduction, and consequently environmental protection could be substantially achieved with regionally tailored design approaches, along with improved ships' operational performance and reliability. A conceptual framework for sustainable ship design, incorporating environmental constraints, adopting technological advancement, and adhering to regulations, has been presented in the paper.

Vibration of plate structures in air (dry) and in contact with fluid (wet) is of great interest and practical importance in naval architecture and marine applications. Therefore, a fundamental understanding of the natural vibration frequency and mode of various plate structures under different boundary conditions and environments is essential, especially for early-stage ship structural designs. In this paper, the dry and wet vibrations of simply supported rectangular Mindlin plates are studied with emphasis on developing closed-form solutions of vibration frequencies and quantification of uncertainties of different types. In plate-fluid-interaction modeling, potential flow assumption is adopted for the fluid, while orthotropic thick-plate condition is used for starting the plate bending formulation. The coupling between the fluid and plate is achieved through the fluid–plate interface, where the pressure is the same across the fluid–plate interfaces and the fluid–plate contact is permanent. Closed-form analytical solutions of added mass due to hydrodynamic effects of the potential fluid with several typical boundary conditions are presented first, and then the differential governing equations of orthotropic Mindlin plate with added mass considered are derived for the first time. Subsequently, simple solutions of wet vibration frequency are presented for both Mindlin plate and Kirchhoff–Love plate. With the derived closed-form solutions, parametric study and comparison between these two plate models can be easily conducted. For a given fluid–plate interaction model, the variations of the obtained vibration frequency are further evaluated with probabilistic analysis and Monte–Carlo simulation by considering the uncertainties and variations of the influencing parameters. This study sheds significant light on the fundamental plate-fluid-interaction in terms of wet vibration and provides potential opportunities for further development in ship structural reliability, noise and comfortness management, and the control of acoustic signatures.

Accurate prediction of ship wave-making resistance is a critical challenge in naval architecture, particularly during the preliminary design stage. This study presents a comprehensive hybrid artificial intelligence (AI) framework for predicting the wave-making resistance coefficient (CW) of the DTMB 5415 naval hull model, integrating both numerical hull parameters and image-derived hydrodynamic features. A systematic parametric study was conducted by varying the hull’s principal dimensions—length, beam, and draft—by ±25% from their nominal values, resulting in 135 distinct hull configurations, where for each combination, CW is computed using Maxsurf software (Academic Version 25). Corresponding wave fields are captured as images and preprocessed through resizing, grayscale conversion, contrast enhancement, and edge detection to emphasize key hydrodynamic characteristics for AI training. A dual neural network architecture is employed, combining a Feed-Forward Artificial Neural Network (CW) for numerical inputs with a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) for image-based feature extraction. The hybrid model demonstrated superior predictive performance, achieving a coefficient of determination (R2) exceeding 0.99, significantly outperforming standalone FFAN and CNN models. This study contributes a novel, physically interpretable AI framework capable of capturing complex nonlinear interactions between hull geometry and wave patterns, providing a reliable and computationally efficient alternative to towing tank experiments and high-fidelity CFD simulations.

ABSTRACT Inland waterways are essential for ecological balance, preserving biodiversity, and supporting economic activities such as transportation and tourism. However, growing anthropogenic pressures – including agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, untreated sewage, and vessel navigation impacts such as sulphur emissions, oil spills, and wake wash have significantly degraded river ecosystems. This study integrates computational fluid dynamics (CFD), naval architecture and environmental science to address these challenges and develop strategies for river health restoration.The sustainable management of polluted rivers is constrained by the lack of actionable, multidisciplinary frameworks that assess the combined effects of vessel traffic, pollution, and ecosystem degradation including wake induced erosion, chemical alteration of water quality and navigational related inefficiencies. This study evaluates coupled hydrodynamic and ecological parameters, and their interrelated impacts using CFD simulations to examine vessel wake wash, critical flow velocity and sediment erosion,and to guide sustainable river management and restoration strategies. The paper proposed measures such as regulating vessel speed to reduce wake-induced erosion, enforcing stricter pollution control standards, adopting geotextile-based shoreline protection, and clearing navigational obstructions to lower emissions and ensure timely dredging. Monitoring pH levels and turbidity is used to track restoration progress. Ultimately, this research emphasises the importance of multidisciplinary approaches that integrate hydrodynamics, naval architecture, and ecological principles, and provides actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders to develop phased river restoration frameworks, balancing sustainable inland waterway navigation with ecological preservation.

This paper presents an advancement in smart sensing and structural health monitoring (SHM) of large-scale ship structures, aimed at real-time detection and accurate localization of damage induced by extreme environmental conditions and high-impact events. This subject has attracted increasing attention in naval architecture, marine, and ocean engineering because such damage has critical implications for structural integrity and safety. In practical applications within harsh marine environments, the capability to rapidly and reliably identify the location of structural damage after an extreme event is essential. To address this need, the proposed approach integrates the inverse finite element method (iFEM), anomaly index formulation, and machine learning (ML) techniques. High-fidelity finite element (FEM) models are employed to simulate damage scenarios with high accuracy; these simulations are then simplified to enable efficient real-time analysis and seamless integration into the SHM framework. The methodology has been applied to a representative case study involving a portion of a containership, effectively overcoming challenges related to optimal sensor placement, environmental variability, and complex operating conditions. Ultimately, the study introduces an enhanced iFEM-based strategy combined with ML models for real-time SHM, providing a robust and scalable solution for damage detection and localization in large-scale ship structures under extreme conditions. • Enhanced real-time monitoring and damage detection via advanced sensors integrated with numerical models. • Seamless integration of iFEM, Anomaly Index, Deep Neural Networks, and computational methods. • Use of high-fidelity numerical models for impact damage simulation. • Implementation on a real marine structure, demonstrating effectiveness in practical applications.

Bridging Design Domains in Digital Shipbuilding: Virtual Prototypes and Immersive Workflows for System Integration

Indonesia's vast underwater resources and infrastructure necessitate advanced technologies for exploration and maintenance. Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) have emerged as essential tools, offering safe and efficient underwater operations. However, their performance is affected by hydrodynamic drag, influencing maneuverability and energy efficiency. This study may differ from previous research due to the ROV model used. The TKD Laboratory UUV model, named Segara Nauta with the type code SN-01, is currently under development in the TKD Laboratory of the Department of Naval Architecture, Faculty of Marine Technology (FTK) – ITS is used for this study. This study is focused on investigates the drag characteristics of the SN-01 ROV using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. Grid independence tests identified an optimal mesh resolution of 1,163,064 elements, balancing computational efficiency and accuracy. Resistance tests at varying speeds (0.3– 1.0 m/s) and movement directions revealed that resistance increases with speed. Forward-backward resistance ranged from 0.0019 N to 0.0190 N, while sideways resistance was significantly higher, from 0.0049 N to 0.0481 N, due to greater surface exposure. The resistance on the ROV increases as the speed of the ROV increases, therefore it is necessary to conduct a study on the service speed of the ROV SN-01 because it can affect the selection of the engine used so that the ROV can work effectively and efficiently. These findings underscore the influence of motion direction and speed on hydrodynamic resistance, emphasizing the need for optimized ROV designs. The results provide valuable insights for improving ROV efficiency, supporting Indonesia’s sustainable underwater exploration and maritime infrastructure maintenance.

Hierarchical multi-objective hull optimization for a cross-domain unmanned surface and glide vehicle based on Voronoï-EHVI adaptive sampling

As a significant milestone in the history of shipbuilding, wooden vessels—through their craftsmanship, structural design, and cultural connotations—continue to offer valuable insights for contemporary naval architecture. With the decline in practical functionality and research attention, structural optimization has become increasingly important—not only as a scientific validation of traditional craftsmanship, but also as a means of safeguarding and transmitting material culture. Drawing on case studies and comparative analysis, this paper reviews feasible approaches to structural optimization of small- and medium-sized wooden vessels from four perspectives: lightweight design, enhancement of crashworthiness, improvement of navigational stability, and material reinforcement, thereby providing a reference for the innovation and development of traditional craftsmanship.

It is well known that the analysis of the consequences that the interaction of the ship's body with the navigation environment has on its behaviour is one of the difficult problems of naval architecture. The responsibility of a naval architect is to develop design methodologies and building technologies that, considering the complex actions of the navigation environment, allow the efficient operation of ships, in accordance with their functionality. For ships operating in the proximity of offshore drilling platforms, more than in the case of others, it is essential to anticipate, well know and control the consequences that the navigation environment has on the general behaviour of the ship. The paper aims to make some contributions to solving the complex problem of the movements of a supply ship (understood as a rigid solid with a complex architecture) in the hydrometeorological conditions of the North Sea and Baltic Sea. The aim is to substantiate a model for the analysis of static and dynamic nautical qualities, computer-assisted by advanced software instruments (AutoHydro and Octopus Office). To exemplify the study, a supply ship built in Tulcea Shipyard was used. The authors were interested in modifying the architecture of the original hull by introducing a cylindrical portion in the stern area of the ship. This architectural choice was justified by the need to provide, on the deck, additional spaces for various equipment intended for work near the offshore drilling platforms, and, below deck, additional storage spaces for various purposes. Using the analysis facilities offered by the two software tools mentioned, the consequences that these changes have on nautical qualities have been analysed (the study exemplifies, with comments and interpretations, the hydrostatic diagram and the stability diagrams). The study was computerized by AutoHydro software for the analysis of static nautical qualities. For the analysis of the dynamic behaviour of the wave profile characteristic of the North Sea, with the help of Octopus software, the oscillatory movements of roll and pitch were analysed, both for the original hull and for the modified version. The paper aimed to support the advantages of computerized studies in the initial design phases, without minimizing the importance of tests in towing tanks or sea trials. For scenarios such as the one proposed in this paper (modification of the length of a ship already built, while maintaining the rest of the initial dimensions) the computer-aided study, with software tools specific to the field of naval engineering and navigation, highlights the following advantages: elaboration of various architectural variants, precision in design, speed in the realization of constructive solutions, simulations of the dynamic behaviour on the wave according to various parameters (draft, speed, encounter angle).

The advancement of innovative solutions in shipbuilding demands the ongoing enhancement of research infrastructure. Hydro-aerodynamic challenges related to fluid flow around ship hulls can be addressed using numerical and/or experimental methods. However, numerical results must always be validated through experimental model testing in specialized hydro-aerodynamic laboratories. To support such research, a wind tunnel was developed at the Faculty of Naval Architecture, “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galați, enabling the measurement of aerodynamic forces and moments, as well as the distribution of speed and pressure on the hull under wind action. This paper highlights the main types of problems that can be experimentally investigated in the aerodynamic tunnel and describes the specific experimental equipment used.

Parametric strength analysis of a river-coastal boat made of GRE composite materials in oblique design wave scenarios

Abstract This paper presents the latest merchant ship concepts developed by the WHISPER Project Consortium under the Horizon Europe framework. The project is managed by Verkis and technically led by Stirling Design International (SDI), a naval architecture firm. It showcases innovative Panamax bulk carrier and container feeder designs, achieving up to 30% fuel consumption reduction through the integration of cutting-edge technologies, including OceanWings wingsails, Solbian solar panels, and Sidewind turbines. The paper provides a detailed analysis of the performance prediction, operational challenges, and associated risks. Mitigation strategies employed within the WHISPER Project will also be discussed. One key innovation is the integration of six tiltable OceanWings wingsails, each 363 m2, into a Panamax bulk carrier, based on insights from Ant Topic and Marfin Management ship owners. Additionally, the paper presents the integration of two OceanWings wingsails with elevator platform on a container feeder with an innovative hull design, highlighting results on ship commercial capacity and performance as informed by Samskip and Nav-Tech ship owners. Both designs developed by SDI are practical examples of how renewable wind and solar energy technologies can be effectively incorporated into the shipbuilding and ship repair sectors, offering substantial potential for sustainable maritime operations. Keywords wind propulsion; bulk carrier; wing sail; naval architecture

This study examines global research trends in shipbuilding materials using bibliometric matching and addresses the gap in the literature stemming from the lack of a comprehensive bibliometric study directly focusing on shipbuilding materials. The Scopus database was searched for studies published between 1970 and 2024; the starting year was chosen because it corresponds to the period when research on modern shipbuilding materials accelerated with advances in welding/joining processes, corrosion protection, and material testing standards. The search used the keywords “ship hull materials,” “naval architecture materials,” and “marine vehicle construction materials.” The latter two terms were defined to encompass structural and construction elements directly related to shipbuilding. Bibliometric matching identified leading countries, institutions, journals, frequently cited studies, and thematic clusters. The thematic framework is organized according to four main material groups: wood, steel, aluminum, and composites. The findings indicate a growing emphasis on composite materials, and ongoing research on improving corrosion resistance, strength, and sustainability in steel and aluminum. The results obtained provide a comprehensive overview of the subject and produce insights that can contribute to the shaping of future research agendas in marine engineering and naval architecture. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cite this article: Sekban, D. M., Berigel, M., & Kirma, F. (2026). Shipbuilding materials: A bibliometric analysis of research trends. Maritime Technology and Research, 8(2), 281595. https://doi.org/10.33175/mtr.2026.281595 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Highlights Summarizes recent studies on materials in maritime structural applications. Presents a 50-year bibliometric analysis of shipbuilding materials research. Identifies top countries, institutions, and key authors in the maritime field. Reveals thematic shifts and keyword trends in naval material studies. Maps international collaboration networks in shipbuilding materials research. Highlights emerging topics such as composites, corrosion, and eco-friendly design.