Traditional Maltese vessels are disappearing, placing maritime heritage and valuable seafaring knowledge at risk. Through stakeholder perspectives, this analysis uncovers the social, operational and economic pressures behind their decline, while proposing practical preservation strategies to safeguard skills, strengthen cultural identity and secure these iconic craft for future generations to value.

An electric marine cycloidal propeller could redefine vessel manoeuvrability and propulsion efficiency. By replacing shafts, gears and linkages with direct electromagnetic drive technology, the concept promises higher torque, faster response and lower maintenance. Analysis across key manoeuvring scenarios reveals how innovative propulsion architectures may unlock smarter, more agile ships ahead.

Floating offshore wind growth is reshaping the role of shipyards, demanding new infrastructure, capabilities and construction strategies. This analysis evaluates facility requirements for turbine assembly, substructure fabrication and deployment logistics, revealing critical engineering constraints and investment priorities. The findings offer a roadmap for scaling future offshore wind programmes globally efficiently.

Stepped hulls continue to offer exceptional high-speed performance, yet their complex hydrodynamics have challenged designers for decades. Combining mathematical modelling, numerical simulation and experimental testing, new predictive tools provide deeper insight into step design and performance in waves, enabling faster, more reliable development of next-generation high-performance marine craft.

Royal Museums Greenwich’s extensive archive of naval and merchant ship plans offers an untapped resource for maritime innovation and heritage preservation. Supporting everything from replica vessel construction to modern warship development, these collections help recover historic shipbuilding knowledge, inform education initiatives and provide inspiration for future sustainable vessel design and propulsion solutions.

One of the world’s oldest seagoing vessels continues to influence maritime heritage and engineering. Tracing the Dover Bronze Age Boat from archaeological discovery to replica construction and long-term conservation, this account reveals lessons in ancient shipbuilding, experimental archaeology and preservation, while highlighting its enduring educational and cultural significance today globally.