FIBRESHIP addresses the feasibility of using Fibre-Reinforced Polymers (FRP) technology in vessels larger than 500GT and the lack of a regulatory framework. FRP materials started to be used in boat hull building in the 1930s as a manufacturing experiment using fibreglass fabric and polyester resin laid in a foam mould. Nowadays most of the leisure crafts, sailing yachts, ferries, patrol and rescue vessels below 50 meters length are built in FRP materials due to its benefits regarding weight reduction maintaining enough structural resistance. FRP application has revolutionized entire industries such as aerospace or automotive. However, FRP technology for large-length vessels has not been totally spread to the entire maritime industry due to the regulatory framework and the lack of studies on its feasibility.
After a preliminary analysis of the current shipping market and other engineering fields significant for FIBRESHIP (such as numerical modelling, ship design, shipbuilding, inspection, maintenance and standardization procedures), FRP technology for large vessels is a market niche ready to be explored and exploited for the European stakeholders. This project encourages new high-level technological innovations, positioning the consortium at the forefront of their fields of specialization and empowering their business opportunities in the maritime sector. Furthermore, FRP in large-length ships will imply a significant structural weight reduction (up to 70%) and several benefits (bunkering saving, corrosion immunity, payload cargo capacity increasing, GHG emissions reduction among others).
The main objective of FIBRESHIP is to generate a new market and evolve the regulatory framework to enable large-length ships in FRP and its massive application in shipbuilding, by means of the following actions:
- Engagement of maritime stakeholders and regulatory bodies.
- Identification of FRP materials and designing of 3 vessel types (Containership, ROPAX and FRV) supported on new validated FRP numerical tools.
- Innovative monitoring methodologies development and guidelines elaboration on materials selection, innovative design procedures and production methodologies.
- Implementation of methodologies in a demonstrator of a full-scale ship block.
- Life-cycle cost-benefits analysis considering FRP materials in large-length ships and a global business plan for the actors in the value chain (engineering, material production, shipbuilding and operation).
As the main conclusion, FIBRESHIP is a reality. Despite there are still technical details to be solved and regulatory challenges to be overcome, according to the obtained results, it can be concluded that it is feasible having large-length ships over 500GT in composites in the near future as soon as the market requires them.
