»Innovation is evolution«

The Royal Institution of Naval Architects is well known for

breakthrough of alternative ship power technologies
What are the most important topics for Safety today?

Trevor Blakeley: A big problem is the seafarers. We[ds_preview] have to educate them. Not just design and construction can contribute to safety, there is also an educational role for the institutions.

The German shipyard association has published a study on leak stability. It says that it would be possible and advisable to widen ships and to enhance freeboard. What is your opinion on this?

Barkeley: I think that is right. Ships are designed to be stable. Ships that are unstable are obviously unsafe. But ships and designs are constantly evolving and getting bigger, for example large containerships. We are looking at the new demand which is actually generated by this process. You do not just scale up, that’s not as simple as that.

In terms of ship efficiency, what will the future bring in respect of hull forms, hydrodynamics or propulsion technology?

Blakeley: It is not driven by design matters, but by environmental questions. How can the maritime industry be more sensitive regarding the environment? For example in reducing emissions, burning less fuel by more efficient hull designs. Engine manufacturers will argue that their engines are already quite efficient. Ship designer are playing a greater role in improving efficiency than perhaps hitherto. And the ship designer is having a greater role to play.

Will there be significant changes in ship design?

Blakeley: Ship design, both structural and hydrodynamic, is an evolutional process. I don’t see any dramatic change. Ships won’t stop being point at the front and blunt at the rear. There will be smaller changes, but they will be of significance. They will result from improvements in design tools, like computing capacities.

Are environmental discussions a kind of game changer?

Blakeley: I think they are. The shipping industry may be reluctant, but it has no choice. To say that the industry is already clean doesn’t count. Because there are new tools like computer capacities, naval architects will be able to respond to new demands.

Has there already been another game changer as big as the environmental discussions in these days?

Blakeley: Not that I am aware of. Again, innovation and developments are an evolutionary process rather than a »Eureka« moment.

Do you believe in the future of wind- and solar-driven vessels?

Blakeley: I’m not sure, to be quite honest. For solar power for example you need improved battery storage. I rather feel that for the times to come the vast majority of ships will continue to be propelled by some form of carbon-based fuels. It’s the same as with rotary sails. These concepts are not new. In terms of wind I give up on sky sails systems. It looks alright in theory. I don’t see there is an alternative source of power making a significant impact in terms of ship power. I think wind will not play more than a peripheral role.

What is your opinion about systems blowing micro bubbles under the vessel to improve energy efficiency?

Blakeley: As with wind sails and many other things: It’s not new technology. So I have to ask myself why is it only just now coming to popularity. If it was that good, then we would have developed it many years ago and it would be used widely. There may be possible marginal improvements in energy efficiency, but there is no dramatic breakthrough in reducing fuel consumption by let’s say 50%.

Where do you see the future of the maritime industry?

Blakeley: The key to future success is innovation. But what is the key to innovation? It’s people with the knowledge and the understanding to be able to respond to the needs of shipowners, the industry and the society. Innovation does not have to be technological. Innovation can be in respect of the way you operate or the way you train. But obviously in the maritime industry being a very much technologically based industry clearly engineers will have a greater part to play. And I believe that the maritime industry does have this kind of people coming into the industry.