An integrated methodology for the design of Ro-Ro passenger ships

The present paper provides a brief introduction to the holistic approach to ship design, defines the generic ship design optimization problem and demonstrates its solution by use of advanced optimization techniques

GOALDS – goal based ship stability & safety standards

The new probabilistic damaged stability regulations for dry cargo and passenger ships (SOLAS 2009), which entered into force on January 1, 2009, represent a major step forward in achieving an improved safety standard through the rationalization and harmonization of damaged stability requirements. There are, however, serious concerns regarding the adopted formulation for the calculation of the survival probability of passenger ships, particularly for ROPAX and large cruise vessels. The present paper outlines the objectives, the methodology of work and intermediate results of the EU–funded FP7 project GOALDS (Goal Based Damaged Stability, 2009–2012), which aims to address the above shortcomings by state–of–the–art scientific methods and by formulating a rational, goal–based regulatory framework, properly accounting for the damage stability properties of passenger ships

Medstraum : design and operation of the first zero-emission fast catamaran

The paper deals with the design, construction and the early operation of the worldwide 1 st battery driven high-speed catamaran passenger ferry MS Medstraum. The paper elaborates on unique issues of the design process, on the superior hydrodynamic performance, on the modular construction of vessel and on the land-based electrical/charging installation. MS Medstraum was built by Fjellstrand AS and was launched in early June 2022. After successful sea trials that superseded the expectations of designers, builders and operators, achieving a maximum speed of over 27 knots, it started operations in the Stavanger/Norway area in late September 2022. The prototype character of MS Medstraum led to its selection as “Ship of the Year 2022” at the major international maritime exhibition SMM 2022 (September 2022, Hamburg). The presented research is in the frame of the H2020 funded project “TrAM – Transport: Advanced and Modular” (www.tramproject.eu)

Multi-objective Optimization of Cruise ships considering the SOLAS 2009 and GOALDS damage stability

A new formulation for the assessment of ship's survivability in damaged condition, based on the probabilistic concept, was developed in the framework of the EU-funded research project named GOALDS. The investigation of the impact of the new formulation on the design and operational characteristics of cruise ships is the main objective of the present paper. An additional objective is to investigate the possibility of raising the required subdivision index compared to current SOLAS 2009 levels; this is supported by demonstrating the feasibility of representative sample ship designs of enhanced survivability through formalized, multi-objective optimization studies, while considering a risk and cost effectiveness analysis

Complementing SOLAS framework with a probabilistic description for the damage extent below water

SOLAS damage stability regulations do not embed a probabilistic description for the damage extent below water. A \u201cworst case approach\u201d is therefore used for the s factor when there are horizontal subdivision boundaries below water. This can lead to the underestimation of the ship survivability, and it prevents an effective assessment of the effect of horizontal subdivision boundaries below water. To make a step forward, this paper presents a \u201cu-factor\u201d, derived from statistical analysis of accidents data, which can be embedded in the SOLAS framework to account for horizontal subdivision boundaries below water, avoiding the need for the \u201cworst case approach\u201d

Probabilistic assessment of survivability in case of grounding: development and testing of a direct non-zonal approach

This paper presents the results of ongoing research efforts aimed at the theoretical development and practical implementation of a probabilistic framework for regulatory assessment of ship survivability following grounding accidents, with particular attention to passenger vessels. In the envisioned framework, the probabilities of flooding of a compartment, or a group of compartments, i.e. the so-called \u201cp-factors\u201d, are determined using a flexible and easily updatable direct non-zonal approach. The assessment of the conditional ship survivability, on the other hand, is based on the SOLAS \u201cs-factor\u201d. The general framework is described, together with implementation details in the specific case of bottom grounding. Testing results, carried out using a specifically developed software tool, are also reported

Optimization of arrangements of Ro-Ro passenger ships with genetic algorithms

A formal multi-objective optimization procedure based on genetic algorithms is applied for the internal compartmentation of Ro-Ro ferries. Attained Subdivision Index, lane meters and steel weight are considered as object functions. Case studies for a typical Ro-Ro ferry yield realistic results and show that the optimization procedure can handle realistic design problems

1 Introduction Optimization of Arrangements of Ro-Ro Passenger Ships with Genetic Algorithms

Ships are complex and multifunctional systems, thus their design involves innumerable desig

Multi-objective optimization of oil tanker design

Parametric optimization was applied to a double-hull AFRAMAX tanker design in order to reduce oil-outflow probability and increase cargo carrying capacity, and the results are presented here. A multi-criteria optimization procedure was set up in modeFrontier ® using the cargo volume, the mean oil-outflow parameter and the steel weight of the cargo block as the objective functions. Calculations are based on a parametric geometric model of the ship created in NAPA ®, and on a structural model created in POSEIDON ®. Integration of the above software packages leads to an automated optimization procedure that provides improved feedback to the designer regarding the trade-off between the various design parameters and optimization criteria involved. The results obtained suggest notable improvements in transport capacity and oil-outflow performance for known, well-established yard designs. The presented work derives from a joint industrial project between Germanischer Lloyd (GL) and the Ship Design Laboratory of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA-SDL), which continues the work done and coordinated by NTUA-SDL within the SAFEDOR project on the same subject

Numerical and Experimental Optimization Study on a Fast, Zero Emission Catamaran

The present study focuses on the hydrodynamic hull form optimization of a zero emission, battery driven, fast catamaran vessel. A two-stage optimization procedure was implemented to identify in the first stage (global optimization) the optimum combination of a ship’s main dimensions and later on in the second stage (local optimization) the optimal ship hull form, minimizing the required propulsion power for the set operational specifications and design constraints. Numerical results of speed-power performance for a prototype catamaran, intended for operation in the Stavanger area (Norway), were verified by model experiments at Hamburgische Schiffbau Versuchsanstalt (HSVA), proving the feasibility of this innovative, zero emissions, waterborne urban transportation concept