IDEA:
L1-25 - Closed Ballast Dynamic Depth Ship

PILLAR:
C - Waterborne

RESEARCH AREA:
RA2 - Vehicles & Vessels Technologies, Design and Production

TEAM NAME:
Newcastle Marine

TEAM MEMBERS:
Jack Jones (Team leader)
Andrew Manning
Macsen Ross
Edvinas Misius
Melvin Wang
Amber Bearne


UNIVERSITY:
University of Newcastle Upon Tyne

COUNTRY:
UNITED KINGDOM

ABSTRACT:
Shipping transports 80% of the world’s commodities and at the same time transfers approximately 3 to 5 billion tonnes of ballast water internationally each year. The transportation of ballast water inevitably results in the transportation of invasive marine species and can cause severe harm to local marine habitats. This project aims to address current issues that are associated with ballast water management systems, in accordance with imposing deadlines coming into force from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) that will limit ballasting operations globally. 
The ability to significantly reduce a ship’s ballasting operations is clearly needed and this proposed design looks at an ‘out of the box’ solution for the need of on board ballasting systems by altering a ship’s dimensions to compensate for cargo loading operations and to improve the vessel’s stability. This process not only limits the number of marine species that may be transported due to ballasting operations, but also offers the potential for fuel savings due to a significant decrease in the ship’s resistance when her dimensions are altered. In order to improve the sea keeping aspects of the ship, a closed ballast system will have to be incorporated which will be used to alter the ship’s trim and stability. 
To conduct this project, a basis ship has been chosen, a 180m long handysize bulk carrier. This ship was selected, as it is bulk carriers that account for the largest use of ballast water due to the nature of their operation, often completing a backhaul completely un laden, and their relatively simplistic shape enables initial designs and calculations to be completed. This proof of concept has the potential to be transferred to other vessel types after further research into this field.
Areas of research within this project include stability calculations, structural strength, pumps and hydraulics, seals and water tight integrity and propulsion and power requirements.
