Structural efficiency remains a central challenge in marine engineering, where grillage systems must withstand complex combinations of bending and compression loads. A new analytical approach simplifies the prediction of structural behaviour and buckling response, achieving strong agreement with finite-element analysis while offering a practical framework for assessing strength, stability, and load transfer in reinforced structures.

As vessels operate closer to critical speed regimes, understanding wave generation becomes increasingly important for efficiency, performance, and environmental impact. Revisiting classic wave-pattern theory with modern numerical techniques provides fresh insight into how deep- and shallow-water wave fields evolve, revealing the distinctive behaviours that emerge near critical operating conditions and their influence on wake characteristics.

An all-electric submarine concept is challenging traditional underwater operations. Designed to recharge through offshore wind infrastructure and operate without conventional fuels, the Renewable concept explores long-endurance battery propulsion for regional missions. The study highlights innovative energy integration, operational feasibility, and emerging possibilities for lower-emission naval capabilities ahead in coming decades.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the frames of a steel ship were stood up on the keel like those of a wooden ship, and the plates attached later. Frames had to be shaped to match the curves of the hull design. Each one was heated in a forge and then hammered or jacked to match the shape of its template. In late 19th century, it was not easy fairing the hull. Flexible sticks, called battens, were used for fairing the lines, i.e. checking the

Human factors have long been recognised as a major contributor to maritime accidents, yet translating that understanding into ship design remains an ongoing challenge. Analysis of regulations, standards, and design guidance reveals widespread recognition of human-centred design principles, while highlighting gaps in consistency and enforcement that continue to limit their practical adoption across the industry.

As shipbuilding moves toward greater automation and precision, digital approaches are transforming traditional plate-forming processes. By combining thermo-mechanical simulation with experimental validation, advanced line-heating models can accurately predict deformation and residual stresses, supporting automated manufacturing, improved forming accuracy, and more consistent production outcomes in modern shipyards.

As shipbuilding and offshore fabrication projects grow in scale and complexity, success increasingly depends on managing coordination across diverse stakeholders, disciplines, and project phases. By examining lessons from manufacturing and major engineering programmes, this work highlights the value of more integrated, systems-level approaches to improve communication, adaptability, and overall project performance.

Active trim tabs are a key element of ride control systems on high-speed catamarans, but their hydrodynamic behaviour is more complex than conventional assumptions suggest. Experimental testing reveals that stern-tab effectiveness depends not only on tab angle and speed but also on pressure interactions beneath the hull, offering important insights for improving vessel stability, efficiency, and motion-control performance.

Structural ageing and fatigue remain major challenges for oil tankers, where long-term crack growth can threaten reliability and safety. By combining fracture-mechanics modelling with corrosion progression analysis, engineers gain a clearer understanding of how degradation influences structural life, highlighting the importance of integrating fatigue and corrosion effects into maintenance planning, inspection strategies, and asset management.

As shipyard operations become increasingly complex, understanding and managing safety risks requires approaches that go beyond traditional incident analysis. By combining fault-tree modelling with Formal Safety Assessment in a more structured framework, new methods are identifying hidden interactions and systemic causes of accidents, supporting more effective risk management, regulatory development, and workplace safety improvement.

Predicting submarine manoeuvring behaviour is a critical foundation of lifecycle safety management. By improving understanding of vessel response and control characteristics, designers can better assess operational risks, support safety assurance, and inform safer decisions throughout design, operation, maintenance and capability evolution for submarines operating in demanding underwater environments worldwide today.

Realistic testing methods are advancing wind-powered vessel development. Using a sensor-rich scale model of Oceanbird, researchers gathered high-quality manoeuvring and aerodynamic data in free-sailing conditions. The work demonstrates improved evaluation of sailing ship behaviour, including zigzag performance, while strengthening validation techniques for future wind-assisted and fully wind-powered designs globally today.