To meet UN’s climate goals, many ship owners consider installing Wind power on their vessels. Several wind assistance technologies are available on the market, for example “Flettner rotors”. But how much power saving can a Flettner rotor provide, in real life? One way to find out is to conduct a sea trial.

Together with the Swedish Sea Rescue Society, SSPA with partners are developing proposals to demonstrate what an emission-free sea rescue boat can look like.

- The project is in an exciting design phase right now, says senior naval architect Magnus Wikander at SSPA. The boat will be an electric and foiling vessel that is 8-9 meters long. The folding foils will reduce the resistance in water and make the boat more energy efficient, more comfortable, and almost silent. The next step is to continue all preparations and get ready to start building the prototype towards the end of 2021.

DREAMIT 2.0 is a research project that will investigate how efficient access management can reduce turnaround times for trucks and trains in port terminals through an automated exchange of relevant information.

SSPA has signed a framework agreement with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and the Swedish Armed Forces. This agreement, Marine Platforms - Amphibious Systems, covers consulting support within ship technical competencies. It includes, among other things, investigations and technical documentation, implementation of investigations, design documentation, delivery inspections and system work. The agreement is valid for three years, from the turn of the year in 2021, with the possibility of an extension for another four years.

Alongside her whole professional career Laura Marimon Giovannetti, now a senior researcher at SSPA, has also been an elite athlete in sailing, representing Italy and then the British Sailing Team at World and European championships. Now she’s (virtually) heading for the Olympics!

The international shipping industry is in for some radical changes. Wind power is now an option that deserves to be taken seriously. SSPA has developed efficient prediction tools for both wind-propelled and wind-assisted ships to support the development of more sustainable maritime transport.

The technical expertise of SSPA has supported The Swedish Defense Material Administration (FMV) in the second part of the lifetime extension of Combat Boat 90 (CB90). The modifications have ranged from installing new engines to new interceptor type trim tabs. So far 73 boats have been modified and the last three will soon be completed.

Using shore side electricity in ports is a relevant current issue in the transition to fossil-free shipping. Yet, the degree of electrification in Swedish ports is increasing slowly and at present few Swedish vessels make use of this solution. This research project takes its starting point in the industry needs and aims to strengthen the driving forces to realize new business concepts.

Recently, the research project wPCC (wind Powered Car Carrier) tested the concept Oceanbird with focus on the ship’s ability to manoeuvre and sail in waves. SSPA’s experts performed extensive model tests with a five-metre long ship model in the Maritime Dynamics Laboratory. Since this was the first time a wind powered ship of this kind was tested in the basin, our experts had to develop the test techniques as well.

Oceanbird was recently presented and received worldwide attention. Together, Wallenius Marine, the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and SSPA contribute with considerable resources and expertise to create new knowledge and understandings of vessel design incorporating wind propulsion. The research project is called wPCC (wind Powered Car Carrier), and in September the collaboration presented Oceanbird. Wallenius Marine, owns the concept and SSPA and KTH are research partners.

The phrase “Repetitio est mater studiorum” or “Repetition is th e mother of learning” was the starting point for the SEAMAN Online™ development. Requested by clients who wanted to provide their staff or students with unlimited access to a manoeuvring training environment, SEAMAN Online is the world’s first web-based professional maritime manoeuvring training simulator.

SSPA is part of a consortium of Europe’s maritime research and technology leaders that has launched the project FASTWATER. SSPA’s extensive experience with alternative fuels, including methanol, and design and development of ships with a focus on energy efficiency, will be utilised to help ensure the success of the project. The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.

Today there are no inland waterway vessels operating in Sweden. Current limited traffic consists only of IMO vessels. Using the inland waterways to a larger extent would create positive benefits according to authorities, goods owners, shipping companies, ports and freight forwarders. SSPA’s experts and researchers studied this in one of the research projects and has now developed a business concept with an emission free vessel. Read the full report: Battery electric inland waterway vessel.

Recently, SSPA’s experts in seakeeping and ship performance in waves presented a new paper at an international conference, held by RINA (the Royal Institution of Naval Architects). A concise version of the presented paper and the results is available for download. SSPA used the KVLCC2 tanker as a case study and followed the IMO guideline step by step to find the minimum engine size. Our experts used a combination of CFD and model tests.

Recently, research project wPCC (wind Powered Car Carrier) entered a new phase when the new concept was tested at SSPA. The project aims to develop a sailing vessel that can transport about 7,000 cars across the Atlantic, resulting in a reduction of energy consumption by approximately 90 percent. The research project is led by Wallenius Marine, with the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and SSPA as partners.

The project converted a pilot boat to operate on renewable methanol fuel, demonstrating the improvements to environmental and operational performance that can be achieved for this fuel. 

SSPA has developed techniques for analysis of ship hull structural dynamics over several years. We decided to share this information and join forces with several partners to develop knowledge, and a new research project was formed and led by SSPA. This resulted in an accurate model testing technique, know-how to carry out this kind of model testing and insights into possibilities to develop further important techniques to support this important area of technology.

The sensitivity of Arctic areas, in combination with its remoteness and the particularly harsh conditions in cold climates, increases the importance of adequate methodology for estimation of the risk. An oil spill risk assessment forms an important link in the chain of prevention, detection, control and mitigation of spills. SSPA has developed a method to provide answers to the questions; where, how often, what type of oil and the size of t he oil spills that may be expected.

In the research project wPCC (wind Powered Car Carrier) a wind-powered vessel will be developed, from concept to a technical and financially viable design ready to be built within 3-5 years. This project aims to pave the way for a paradigm shift in maritime transport by demonstrating that this new transport concept is possible even in the near future. We do not necessarily need to wait until 2050 to reach IMO's goal of 50% reduction of greenhouse gases.

Decarbonisation of shipping is one of the greatest maritime challenge and the demand for low carbon solutions is growing. In the research project Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion (WASP) we will investigate how wind solutions can be more commercially attractive for the future in the North Sea region. The WASP project can help to accelerate the transition and to highlight the wind-assisting propulsion potential.

SSPA’s management system ensures high technical quality and high efficiency in the execution of projects. It is used on a daily basis by all employees at SSPA and is continuously improved through a web based reporting and follow up system. The management system at SSPA is certified in compliance with SS-EN ISO 9001. Our laboratory are accredited according to SS-EN ISO/IEC 17025.