Research, Development and Innovation
More than 75 years of experience and research place SSPA at the forefront of maritime research, development and innovation (RDI). SSPA lead and participate in projects and our staff combine consulting work with research to suit the maritime industry’s need for RDI. For our full-time researchers, the focus is on research projects and method development, including Ph.D. studies in some cases.
SSPA collaborates with universities, research organisations and industry and has a well-established scientific network. We initiate and lead EC-funded and national research projects. Special attention is given to international research cooperation such as the EU Horizon 2020 programme.
SSPA has expertise in many maritime areas. Our RDI activities include the following:
- Development of new methods and techniques
- Innovation implementation
- Knowledge development
- Scientific networking
- Support of business development
Contacts
Ph.D. (Tech. Management and Economics), M.Sc. (Mech. Eng.), M.Sc. (Business Admin.)
AIS in maritime research – new paper
A new research article is published in the journal Marine Policy. This paper provides an overview of how Automatic Identification System (AIS) can be used in different areas of maritime research. The researchers have identified and presents ten different research areas in which AIS is used today. In the future they propose making use of AIS data also in other research fields. Many stakeholders can benefit from the research in which AIS data is used.
Challenging applications in marine engineering
Marine 2019 was recently hosted by Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. This conference is a meeting place for researchers developing computational methods and scientists and engineers focusing on challenging applications in marine engineering. Researchers from SSPA, together with some of our research partners, presented interesting papers.
Paper awarded by RINA
The paper “Comparison of modern keel types for sail boats” was published in late 2017. The study systematically evaluated the hydrodynamic performance of different types of bulb keels. Recently, the paper was awarded with two prizes at the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) annual meeting. The Institution’s Medal of Distinction and the Austin Farrar Prize.
Workshop - the role of transport buyers
Recently transport buyers, shipping companies, forwarders and researchers attended a workshop in Sweden to discuss barriers and opportunities for shifting goods from road transport to short sea shipping within Europe, and also environmental performance of sea transport. The workshop was organised by SSPA and partners as part of a research study.
CFD/EFD Combined methods
SSPA leads the ITTC Specialist Committee on Combined CFD/EFD Methods. The purpose of the committee is to initiate and support the process of introducing combined CFD/EFD methods in ITTC’s procedures. By using the best combination, rather than viewing them as competing methods, we can deliver even better predictions. To facilitate the introduction in our community, the Committee has identified several research areas which need to be addressed.
Modern keel types for sailing yachts
Have you ever reflected over the different types of bulbs chosen for yacht keels? Today there is no general agreement on which bulb type is preferred for different types of yachts and very little scientific investigation has been done in this area. SSPA and Chalmers have carried out a study, where the hydrodynamic performance of different types of bulb keels were systematically evaluated. A paper is published in the International Journal of Small Craft Technology (IJSCT), a RINA Publication.
Sustainable Marine Methanol solutions for smaller vessels
SUMMETH, the Sustainable Marine Methanol project, which investigated and advanced development of methanol engine and fuel solutions for smaller ships, has recently been completed and the final reports are now available. SSPA was project manager and contributed with environmental assessments, feasibility of sustainable methanol supply, and safety assessment.
Strategies for coping with slow-steaming, new paper
The trend of reduced sailing speed, or slow-steaming, presents shippers with new, complex challenges. SSPA has together with Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg studied how the Swedish industry has met and managed these challenges. The study has recently been published in Journal of Shipping and Trade.
Predicting underwater-radiated noise, new paper
SSPA has been involved in numerous acoustic-related projects and continually developing various predictive tools, making them available to assist customers in solving problems related to underwater-radiated noise (URN). SSPAs experts are contributing with more research in this area. In August, a new paper will be published in the well-known journal Ocean Engineering.
To combine passion for sports with expertise in science and engineering
Modern Finn dinghies are flexible in sections of the hull. The subjective perception of the sailors is that this makes the boat faster in waves. In a research project together with Chalmers Sports & Technology and Max Salminen, a two-time Swedish Olympic sailor and current World Champion, SSPA will attempt to verify this.
The way forward for maritime digitalisation
One of the research projects that our experts share knowledge in, is the EU-funded project EfficienSea2. Recently this project concluded the findings from three years of research of maritime digitalisation. The project has involved 32 European partners and has developed solutions such as the Maritime Connectivity Platform in order to create a more secure and seamless data exchange in the maritime world.
Electrification, new pre-study
The needs and possibilities of electrification within shipping is analysed in a pre-study, conducted in a Swedish collaborative project. The aim is to give an overview of the technical development within electrification of sea transportation and analyse parameters that influence the performance and costs. The study also investigate the perspective of industry actors regarding their drivers for maritime electrification as well as existing challenges.
To calculate the load factor of ships on a larger scale, new pre-study
Transport activities can become more energy and cost efficient by improving the load factor, i.e. balancing the required and available capacity of transportation. Statistics about load factor are missing today, in particular for sea transports. SSPA’s experts has investigated how the load factor can be mapped from AIS-data and analysed the energy efficiency potential of an increased load factor in sea transports.
MaRINET2, providing support
The Marine Renewables Infrastructure Network is composed of 39 organisations who collaborate to progress offshore renewable energy technologies in Europe. It aims to accelerate the development of wave, tidal and offshore wind energy technologies and infrastructure by opening up access to 57 test facilities. The project is supported by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme.