Ciencia y tecnología de buques

Editorial Note

Carlos Eduardo Gil de los Ríos — 2023-07-31

Zero Pollution: design of a river tourist pontoon with electric propulsion based on hydrogen fuel cell

David Naranjo Tabares — 2023-07-31

Environmental logistics in Colombian river areas requires solutions that allow economic development based on tourism, without ecological degradation. Therefore, this paper shows the most relevant aspects of the project and preliminary design of a Pontoon-type vessel with a catamaran hull of 8 meters in length with enough power to reach a speed of 5 knots (85%MCR) and built in aluminum, which will also have electric propulsion based on a hydrogen fuel cell, and using renewable energies such as solar panels on the roof and a wind turbine. One of its main characteristics is that it will be a pollution-free ship and its classification will be done following the regulations of the Bureau Veritas, and all those national and international regulations that are applicable. Due to the problems generated by the daily use of the different means river transportation, which undoubtedly, could generate an irreversible affectation to the environment and a considerable loss of biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems, which worsens over time, this prototype design might be presented to national shipbuilding, as a possibility for designing eco-friendly tourist vessels for the country's river areas, as an example for future constructions that are expected with the rise of tourism in the country.

The great challenge of propeller cavitation in shipbuilding. Continuous control with the innovative Non-Intrusive Cavitation Detection System (Ni-CDS)

Publio Beltrán Palomo — 2023-07-31

Cavitation is an unwanted phenomenon that has been present for more than 50 years in any ship propulsion system. Despite the great technological advances with the use of advanced simulation tools (CFD's), and new technology, we are still far from being able to eliminate it from propellers due to its own operating principle. This phenomenon will continue to occur under certain conditions of operation of the propulsion system of ships.

The consequences of this phenomenon are well known to the Navies, shipowners and naval engineers: reduction of the service life of the propeller and sometimes of the rudder and hull too, reduction of propulsive efficiency, a significant increase in vibrations and noise on board and, consequently, a reduction in comfort conditions and stealth capacity, together with noise pollution with negative effects on the oceans and marine fauna. This issue has been on the table at the IMO since 2008, currently working on updating MEPC.1/Circ.833. For this purpose, a working group of more than 120 experts from 40 entities (countries and organizations) from all over the world has been created, being TSI one of its most involved members.

After more than 5 years of research, TSI has developed the first non-intrusive system capable of automatically and continuously detect this phenomenon and quantify its intensity, with sufficient precision to provide valuable information for its control. By having a visible and real time indicator of this phenomenon, we can act and reduce the negative effects of cavitation and control the acoustic signature of our vessel at all times.

Electrical design for efficiency: technical and operational measures for optimizing the use of electrical power on ships

Óscar Alejandro Sanabria Vargas — 2023-07-31

There is currently a growing concern in the shipping industry about energy consumption and environmental impacts. According to the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) energy efficiency guidelines, today's ships must have an energy efficiency management plan to reduce the CO2 emission and other pollutants. In this article, a bibliographic review of methodologies for the optimization of energy consumption on ships is carried out, starting from the identification of sources of energy losses, to the implementation of technical and operational measures that contribute to their improvement, making a qualitative evaluation of the identified methodologies. Sources of energy losses associated with equipment and auxiliary systems are analyzed, as well as opportunities for improvement in the use of electrical energy through the implementation of intelligent energy management systems, high efficiency motors, and lighting. The technical and operational energy efficiency measures described above demonstrate the importance of their implementation from the early stages of the ship's electrical design, as well as monitoring energy consumption during its life cycle, to improve energy efficiency on board.

Impacting Factors on the Accuracy of a Fuel Consumption Measurement

Christoph Matt — 2023-07-31

The paper discusses the challenges in performing an accurate fuel consumption measurement and the various factors that affect it. Based on an empirical pressure measurement carried out on a cargo ferry by KRAL engineers, ways to improve measurement accuracy are identified.

Cybersecurity: a general framework in the maritime and military world

Ferney Martínez — 2023-07-31

In recent decades, the production of information in studies and research papers on the subject of cybersecurity have addressed the convenience of developing cyberdefense capabilities regardless of whether the scope is industrial or military, corporate or State. However, despite the generation of policies to contribute to the synergy of protection, cybersecurity threats continue to grow, affecting all organizations regardless of their size. The article deals with the existing guidelines, policies and environments within the international framework of cybersecurity in the maritime environment and identifies how these are taken through particular measures to the environments of military maritime units.