Seventeenth-century French naval expansion transformed shipbuilding, blending engineering excellence with powerful symbolism. Centered on vessels such as Royal Louis, the movement combined advanced construction techniques, strategic state investment, and elaborate aesthetics to project royal authority. The story illustrates how warship design served as both military capability and national expression today.

The widely cited claim that 80% of failures stem from human error is challenged through a fresh examination of safety and automation. By testing the concept against realistic scenarios, this analysis reveals why mature systems naturally attract higher human-error attribution and identifies more meaningful measures of operational risk today onward.

Finite Element Modelling is enhancing the design of ice-class vessels by enabling detailed analysis of bow structures exposed to extreme ice and hydrostatic loads. Applied to the conversion of a tanker into a research vessel, this approach demonstrates how structural optimisation can improve strength, reduce weight and support reliable performance in demanding polar environments.

Composite materials are poised to expand beyond traditional vessel size limits as researchers tackle durability and certification challenges. Findings from the FIBRESHIP initiative show how seawater exposure affects structural performance of large FRP laminates, providing critical evidence to support future composite ship design, regulatory acceptance and maritime innovation worldwide efforts.

Autonomous surveillance vessels are enhancing coastal security through remote operation, reduced crewing requirements and improved mission flexibility. This study combines hull design, stability, resistance, powering and seakeeping analysis to develop a cost-effective unmanned craft capable of operating in challenging conditions while delivering precise manoeuvrability in constrained coastal and canal environments

This is the Whole Conference Proceedings for: The Future Fleet: Smart Technology, Sustainability and Autonomy, 16th - 17th June 2025, Glasgow, United Kingdom

This is the Whole Conference Proceedings for: Managing CII and Associated Challenges, 21st - 22nd January 2025, London, United Kingdom

Incat and Echandia are demonstrating how working closer together on modular battery integration, collaborative vessel design and whole-system engineering is working to future-proof ferries as technology and infrastructure evolve.

Chartwell Marine is expanding its work in the fast passenger ferry market, drawing best practice from CTV design. Its low-wake ferry hullform is a direct response to how electrification has fundamentally changed vessel design.

Salmon Marine’s Wavebreaker dynamic ballast system, originally conceived for offshore racing powerboats, has evolved into a design solution for reducing vertical accelerations experienced by crew and passengers operating at speed.

This is the Whole Conference Proceedings for: Autonomous Ships, 20th - 21st November 2024, Copenhagen, Denmark

This is the Whole Conference Proceedings for: Technical Conference: Managing CII and Associated Challenges, 16th- 17th January 2024, London, United Kingdom