THROUGHLIFE

Development and proof of new approaches for through-life asset management based on next generation of materials and production technology

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Within this framework, the main objective of the project is to develop and prove new approaches for through-life asset management for selected technologies and application scenarios. This will be done by considering all life cycle phases of the technologies concerned in view of their cost efficiency, environmental performance and safety. Special emphasis will be given to the identification, elaboration and demonstration of innovative joint services of the main actors in the life cycle, i.e. primarily new building yards, repair yards and ship operators. In more detail, the following issues will be addressed by THROUGH LIFE: • Efficient and environmentally friendly techniques and materials for ship production (new building), operation (maintenance, repair, conversion) and end-of life (dismantling and reuse); • Condition monitoring and assessment combining information from all life cycle phases and stake holders using state-of-the-art information and communication technologies (no ICT technologies will be developed within the project); • Strategies and tools for predictive, condition and risk based maintenance and repair, including decision support for repair, reuse, recycling or scrapping of materials, components or modules; • Innovative design strategies and assessment tools for improved efficiency and environmental performance over the life cycle of ships; • New business models for used products (ships, parts of ships, components), especially to extend the life span of these products instead of scrapping them; • Concepts and ideas for innovative joint life cycle services involving new building and repair yards as well as ship owners and operators.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Rising costs associated with fuel and ever-stricter environmental regulations are impinging on the competitiveness of the EU shipping sector. New technologies and business models supporting their marketability will bring welcome relief.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The shipping industry is an important pillar of the EU economy. Introducing innovative materials and technology into the design of new ships to enhance competitiveness is very complex. It is often not clear if, how and by whom these novel systems or materials can be repaired in case of damage.

With the support of EU funding, the http://www.throughlife.eu/ (THROUGHLIFE) project was established to develop and validate new approaches for improved energy efficiency and through-life asset management. Close collaboration with industry stakeholders ensured identification of both the most relevant areas for improvement and the potential market scenarios to be addressed. For selected application scenarios, the consortium investigated promising new technologies and developed new business models to support market introduction through reduced uncertainty and risk regarding hidden costs.

Scientists assessed the use of composites in a river cruiser sundeck to reduce weight and thus fuel consumption. A full-scale demonstrator proved the technical feasibility regarding strength and resistance to deflections. A life-cycle assessment produced promising outcomes. Despite significantly higher investment costs, the fuel savings and reduced maintenance contribute to an overall reduction in operational costs throughout the life cycle.

Self-healing anti-corrosion coatings in ballast water tanks and anti-abrasive coatings for certain cargo spaces were also developed and tested. They showed excellent potential to reduce maintenance and replacement of components and demonstrate high potential for actual implementation.

In the ballast water tank application, a condition monitoring system exploiting fibre optic sensors was also investigated to detect corrosion and optimise scheduling of maintenance. The sensor system could easily be extended to other structures subjected to changing internal or external conditions. Life-cycle performance analyses were conducted for all technologies to determine the ability to meet THROUGHLIFE objectives.

The THROUGHLIFE project addressed the most important concerns of stakeholders regarding increasing costs associated with a shipping vessel's life cycle. The consortium developed new technologies and identified ways to enhance market introduction with new business models exploiting life-cycle benefits. Having identified exploitation routes, the technologies are now headed to market supported by business models that address end-user concerns.