Research, Development & Innovation

Damen’s Research team is working on the technology of tomorrow

Damen’s RD&I department goes a step further than comparable departments at other shipyards, says Jochem de Jong, manager of the Research team within RD&I. “However, we are not a research institute, but a mature team with significant research capacity powered by highly educated engineers.” Together with his team, he explores how new technology can take Damen further, now and in the future. “Our work may take place behind the scenes, but without research there is no progress.”

The Research team consists of 24 specialists, divided into six areas of expertise: hydromechanics, construction & production, noise & vibration, mechanics & systems, automation and electrification. Each has its own Principal Research Engineer, responsible for setting up and maintaining a research agenda focused on their specific specialism, and for managing a team of researchers. “The research agendas aim to look further ahead than the everyday operations. Our focus is on new technology and its application in future designs.”

A fifteen year roadmap

The teams’ research agendas are drawn up in close coordination with Damen’s divisions, Jochem explains. “Together with the Development team, we gather information about customer needs. This is identified by our commercial divisions and complemented by what is observed in emerging knowledge and technologies outside the company. Think of developments at universities, suppliers or international research institutes. We translate this into feasible research projects in order to develop the right knowledge, technology and skills for Damen.” All these insights are combined into a shared RD&I roadmap with a fifteen year horizon. “That point on the horizon is, of course, uncertain, but it helps us set priorities. What should we focus on now? What is realistic in the medium term, and which ideas hold promise for the long run? Are we doing the right things?” Many research projects run for five to seven years. “That means the choices we make today determine what we can put into practice a few years from now.”

Clearly valuable

What does all that research actually deliver? It is not always easy to express in concrete terms, Jochem says, but its value is clear. “By building in-depth knowledge of new technology, we can reduce risks in commercial newbuild projects. We can position ourselves as experts towards suppliers and support clients in making strategic choices.” A good example, he continues, is the growing interest among Damen’s clients in alternative fuels. “They ask us, ‘what should we focus on and how do we make choices in future alternatives for powering our vessels?’ Then we – often together with our Sales teams – give presentations on technological feasibility and current developments. That helps our clients and strengthens Damen’s position as a trusted knowledge partner.”

In addition, the department develops tools, methodologies and standards that enable engineers to make design choices, for example for new propulsion systems or hull forms. “Over time, those research results are adopted by Development, Engineering and Design & Proposal. This way, our knowledge is shared across the organisation.”

Exploring deeper together

The Research team works closely with external partners. As well as the aforementioned universities, this includes suppliers, research institutes and sometimes even competitors. “We are involved in several international partnerships, leading to projects and collaborations in the current European research programme Horizon Europe. That not only provides funding, but also adds depth. In these collaborations you may not move faster, but together with partners you certainly go further. Topics from our own roadmap can often be matched directly with those external framework programmes.”

Currently, Damen is participating in around 80 ongoing research projects, both internal as well as collaborative projects. Not all of that work is immediately visible in the final product. “Sometimes it takes years before technological development is translated into a ship design or production process. That is what makes our work both challenging and rewarding.”

Central research question

Jochem says that the central research question for the coming years is ‘how can we reduce a vessel’s energy consumption and harmful emissions?’ “To achieve this, we look at alternative fuels, electrification, radiated noise and the optimisation of sailing behaviour. We also explore autonomous sailing and further automation of ship systems and production processes.”

He explains that the six teams each work from their own field of expertise, but always with the same end goal in mind. “We aim not to think in solutions, but rather in terms of needs. In other words, it is not: I want an electric vessel, but rather I want to perform a specific service with zero emissions. Then we determine which technologies can help achieve that. Each team contributes from its own specialism, guided by Damen’s strategic themes.”

Managing complexity

Considering the impact of the energy transition, the freedom of choice when designing a vessel is increasing rapidly, Jochem observes. “In the past, everything was diesel. Now ship designers are confronted with numerous alternatives – from batteries and LNG to methanol and hydrogen as energy sources – each with its own advantages and challenges. That makes the design process much more complex. Engineers should rely on state-of-the-art expertise on such technologies to make the right choices. We call that managing complexity: making sure that, despite the growing range of options, you arrive at the optimal design for your purpose.

“We have now built a solid knowledge base. In the coming years, we will continue to build on that, always in close cooperation with colleagues across the Damen Group, because, ultimately, it is about ensuring that our knowledge is translated into concrete products, designs and propositions. That is where our added value lies.”

“We are involved in several international partnerships. In these collaborations you may not move faster, but together with partners you certainly go further.