BID TO DRIVE DOWN NEWBUILD WEIGHT

MariLight2 entails cross-industry collaboration by eight organisations, under the project management of Malin Marine Consultants, part of the Govan (Glasgow)-based Malin Group. Five of the partners worked together on the original, CMDC2-sponsored MariLight study into the feasibility of adopting LSAM. Key objectives had been a 13% weight saving in newbuild construction, plus substantial reductions in manufacturing lead time, production time, associated costs and carbon impact.

The concept of ‘lightweighting’ also addresses challenges presented by the introduction of ‘green’ propulsion solutions by lessening the total power required to propel a vessel, while improving efficiency and increasing the ship’s range.

The initial MariLight research team focused on the business case, costs, risks and opportunities regarding the industry’s transition from conventional fabrication methods and procedures to LSAM, identifying benefits in terms of costs, time, processes and material and emission savings. The lack of clear rules and regulations regarding LSAM parts was recognised as one of the major obstacles to the adoption of printed marine components.

In MariLight 2, the partners will progress new design and fabrication processes to the pre-deployment stage. This will entail printing, certifying and functionally testing optimised structural steel components.

Regulation, approval and certification of the envisaged new products and processes forms an integral element of MariLight 2, and consortium member Lloyd’s Register is undertaking the role of regulator within the project, working with the partners to develop guidance that will become the standard for additive manufacturing.

Malin Marine Consultants and Lloyd’s Register are joined in MariLight 2 by defence contractor and shipbuilder BAE Systems, the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), Glasgow offshore equipment maker Caley Ocean Systems, Altair Engineering, Hexagon, and  Siccar.

Michigan-headquartered Altair is a specialist in artificial intelligence (AI), AM and digital twin technology and is focusing on optimised structural designs of ship components for LSAM under MariLight 2. The Edinburgh company Siccar is involved in data acquisition, networks and data sharing, while the Swedish firm Hexagon brings expertise in production ecosystems to the collaborative venture.