Wind-assisted propulsion is increasingly benefiting from advanced digital engineering tools that accelerate design optimisation and improve performance prediction. By combining aerodynamic optimisation, fluid-structure interaction, high-fidelity CFD and finite element analysis within an integrated digital workflow, engineers can assess sail performance, structural integrity and vessel integration from concept through operation. The approach enables more effective sail placement, enhanced fuel savings and improved safety, helping unlock the full potential of wind-assisted propulsion for sustainable maritime transport.

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As wind propulsion moves from assistance to a potential primary means of propulsion, new challenges in vessel control are emerging. This research demonstrates how independently controlled rotor sails can actively manage yaw moments and maintain course stability, reducing reliance on traditional rudders. Combining CFD modelling with wind-tunnel and free-running trials, the approach offers a promising pathway for expanding the practical adoption of wind-powered shipping.

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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.

HMCS Sackville stands as a powerful reminder of the Battle of the Atlantic, a campaign that was vital to maintaining the wartime lifeline between North America and Britain. As the last surviving Flower-class corvette, the vessel embodies the courage, sacrifice and industrial effort that enabled Allied convoy operations and helped secure victory in World War II. Exploring the evolution of the Flower-class, Canada’s major shipbuilding contribution and the ongoing preservation of Sackville, this story highlights the enduring importance of safeguarding maritime heritage for future generations.

A purpose-built dock created for the historic vessel Pommern transformed a preservation challenge into a global case study. Constructed within the water rather than excavated on land, the project unlocked innovative engineering solutions, new conservation opportunities and a platform for international collaboration on safeguarding maritime heritage for future generations worldwide.

New operational guidance is helping translate complex stability science into practical decision-making at sea. Leveraging Second Generation Intact Stability criteria, researchers developed streamlined measures for vulnerable container ships, reducing reliance on computationally intensive assessments. The approach equips crews with clearer risk insights, enhancing voyage safety and operational resilience worldwide today.

A new weather-routing platform demonstrates how data-driven optimisation can advance both efficiency and sustainability at sea. Combining CMEMS wave forecasts, Python-based A* algorithms, and simplified ship performance models, it generates safer, lower-emission routes. Validation against cyclone scenarios and onboard data highlights its potential to support smarter voyage decisions globally today.

Recreating the pioneering seaplane Waterbird exposed a century-old engineering mystery. Historical records omitted critical hull characteristics, leaving modern engineers to solve severe instability and porpoising through redesign, experimentation and intuition. Successful flight trials revealed valuable insights into early stepped-hull innovation while raising new questions about what truly succeeded in 1911?

As maritime decarbonisation drives renewed interest in sustainable materials, traditional wooden vessel construction is attracting fresh attention. By comparing boatbuilding methods, carbon footprints and regulatory gaps, this research highlights the potential of timber as a low-impact alternative while identifying the structural rules and evidence needed to support wider adoption in modern maritime design.

From global voyages to an extraordinary preservation effort, the Edwin Fox offers lessons in maritime heritage, resilience, and community-led innovation. Volunteers achieved remarkable conservation outcomes through hands-on public engagement, yet significant engineering challenges remain. With seismic risks threatening its future, the project highlights urgent opportunities for expertise and stewardship worldwide

USS Midway demonstrates how historic maritime assets can evolve into powerful platforms for education, preservation, and inspiration. Extensive structural modifications and conservation techniques have sustained this iconic aircraft carrier, while hundreds of volunteers drive its mission today. Its legacy highlights engineering excellence, naval heritage, and innovative approaches to public engagement.