technology and digitalization, hydrody-
namics, ship safety, energy efficiency and
solutions that support sustainable devel-
opment,” Kujala lists.
In addition, Aalto University’s brand
new MarineX project will be developed
into a new research forum and collabo-
ration platform for the maritime industry
INDUSTRY MARINE BUSINESS
and marine technology. This will serve to
strengthen the university’s leading posi-
tion in marine technology research, Kujala
www.signwell.fi
believes.
“With MarineX, we are trying to fig-
ure out what that unknown factor – or X –
could be that will be the future difference-
maker for the marine sector,” he explains focus particularly on developing technol- “The confidence we have built over
the ideology of the project. With strong ogies that can improve the environmental the years in our joint development work
trends such as sustainability and digitaliza- and safety aspects of maritime transport, can be put to good use, as we seek solu-
tion shaping also the fortunes of marine, resulting in reduced carbon footprints, uti- tions to problems related to ship safety
it is vital to keep searching for the “next lization of new fuels and further develop- and the environmental impact of ships,”
big thing”. ments in vessel safety. says Kujala.
“When we talk about experiences Jyrki Heinimaa, President and CEO of that cruise ships provide in the future, for RMC, says that the Rauma shipyard wishes NORTH REMEMBERS
instance, it makes sense to tap into the to remain at the “forefront of new devel- Aalto University has always placed major
imaginations of the younger generations. opment” with regard to the construction emphasis on marine technology and
Our students can certainly help in discov- of passenger car ferries, multipurpose ice- research, investigating, for example, the
ering totally new perspectives.” breakers and government ships. “The envi- responses and strength of ships in a com-
ronment and safety are absolutely impor- plex physical environment where ice and
tant to us,” says Heinimaa. wave induced loads are present. The Aalto
BUILDING ON TRADITION
In February 2020, Aalto University con- Professor Pentti Kujala comments research teams also look deep into system-
cluded a new collaboration agreement that this agreement will continue the level issues at the scale of shipping systems
with Rauma Marine Constructions Oy close collaboration between the Rauma and fleets as well as individual ships and
(RMC). The two partners will start planning shipyard and the Otaniemi scientific their subsystems. The focus is – in addition
a long-term joint program on research and community that began roughly 40 years to passenger ships – on ice-going ships
development this year. The program will ago. and, more and more, impacts of auton-
omy into shipping.
Around the world, marine tech solu-
tions are developed in various universi-
ties, but Aalto adds a powerful “North-
ern Dimension” to the mix, studying the
behavior of ships and structures in ice. Arc-
tic marine research focuses on ice loads on
ships and structures, on ship performance
and on ship safety, explains Kujala.
“We can conduct extensive full-scale
trials onboard ice-going ships and we can
also utilize the Aalto Ice Tank which under-
went a 8 million euro upgrade last year,”
he says, adding that the need for ice-going
vessels has not diminished due to climate
change.
“As there is less ice, activity in the
Arctic seas can increase.” n
seatec 2020 41