Descripción del proyecto
Un «mecánico de boxes» para los buques atracados
La acumulación de microorganismos, plantas, algas y animales en las estructuras marinas sumergidas pueden alterar la hidrodinámica del buque, aumentando así la resistencia al avance, el consumo de combustible y las emisiones. Actualmente, no existe ninguna forma eficaz de evaluar el casco cuando el buque está en el agua, y sacarlo conlleva un tiempo de inactividad que resulta caro para los armadores. Además, si un barco no se saca del agua periódicamente para su inspección, aumenta la probabilidad de que las bioincrustaciones se hayan extendido, lo que requeriría unos métodos de limpieza más agresivos que pueden dañar la pintura o el revestimiento del casco. El proyecto SleekShip, financiado con fondos europeos, está desarrollando un vehículo sumergible semiautónomo que detectará biopelículas en fases iniciales utilizando una cámara multiespectral y las limpiará con delicadeza mediante chorros de cavitación. La operación puede realizarse mientras el buque está atracado en el puerto para llevar a cabo otras operaciones o anclado en el mar. La comercialización de este vehículo mejorará la competitividad de los armadores, además de reducir el consumo de combustible y las emisiones.
Objetivo
Marine biofouling has a tremendous economic and environmental impact; it can lead to >€1m in lost revenue per ship per year in fuel overconsumption alone. The International Maritime Organization estimates that gas emissions may increase between 38% and 72% by 2020, unless corrective measures are taken.
The only way to mitigate biofouling is to detect it at an early stage (Level of Fouling – LoF 1), while it can still be cleaned with soft methods that do not damage hull paint or coating. With current approaches this is impossible, particularly within port waters as they are heavily turbid and inhibit visibility. Inspections outside port waters induce charter-off time that costs >€20k per day and are thus avoided by ship operators.
SleekShip comprises a Semi-Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (SAUV) carrying a hyperspectral camera that captures light wavelength bands where light backscattering is less and the slime is easier to distinguish despite contamination. The inspection can take place in port waters while the ship is docked for other operations thus no additional charter-off time is incurred. An integrated cavitation-based cleaning tool allows for 100% paint-safe cleaning.
By detecting biofouling early, ship owners will be able to achieve >€1.3m savings per vessel annually by reducing fuel overconsumption and paint/coating damage caused by hard-brush cleaning.
Our consortium comprises SubseaTech, a dynamic manufacturer of underwater robots, QCELL, a high-tech SME specialising in hyperspectral imaging, M.Danchor a leading cleaning and inspection services company, TWI, the global leader in image-based underwater inspection technologies and Danaos, a NYSE-listed containership owner.
Through SleekShip we aim to achieve sales of €41m, generating €17.9m profits and >110 jobs while helping the shipping industry save €3.4bn per year and reduce CO2 emissions by 115m tonnes over the 5 years after market launch. The Net Present Value ROI is 4:1 on EC funds with a grant.
Ámbito científico
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsoptical sensors
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringnaval engineering
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
IA - Innovation actionCoordinador
13016 Marseille
Francia
Organización definida por ella misma como pequeña y mediana empresa (pyme) en el momento de la firma del acuerdo de subvención.