Description

Digital ship operation involves using advanced technologies to enhance the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of maritime activities. Digital twins enable real-time monitoring and simulation to optimize performance and maintenance. High-quality data is crucial in this context, ensuring that the information used for decision-making is accurate, reliable, and up-to-date. Research in this area investigates and develops methods and tools that provide the foundation for creating people-oriented software.

• Energy-efficient ship operation: Compliance with regulations drives optimization of energy consumption. Onboard energy systems include propulsion and internal energy load balance, both of which SDU addresses. Research focuses on both technical aspects and decision support, emphasizing crew involvement.
• Software development for energy-efficient operation: SDU's software engineering team develops modular decision support systems that help vessel crews reduce fuel consumption by integrating data from ship engines, nautical maps, GPS, weather stations, and forecast models.
• Energy systems: Research covers energy-efficient propulsion systems, internal energy balance in ships, microgrids, and energy storage solutions.
• Ship maintenance: SDU researchers apply AI and digital twin models for predictive maintenance, structural health monitoring, and vibration-based condition monitoring.
• Ship stability: Stability plays a crucial role in safety and performance at sea, affecting capsizing risk, cargo security, and crew comfort. SDU participates in research on international regulations and crew comfort.
• Electrification: The maritime industry is moving toward sustainable solutions. Effective energy infrastructure and storage solutions, such as high-capacity batteries, are essential for integrating renewable energy into maritime operations.

Selected research and PhD projects:

• Battery Energy Storage
• ECOPRODIGI
• Digital Twins for vessel performance and design - ShippingLab II
• Second Generation Intact Stability Criteria
• Digital Ship Operations and Smart Maintenance
• Digital Models for Crew Comfort – ShippingLab II
• Improving the Comfort of Crew and Passengers on Board Working Vessels
• Condition Monitoring of Vessels to Identify High-exposure Operations
• Underwater Broadband Noise Emissions from Cavitating Propellers

Description

The SDU Center for Large Structure Production (LSP) designs, develops and tests robotization and digitalization solutions for the sectors maritime, construction, and energy. The LSP Center has several projects involving Danish shipyards and companies regarding the automation of shipbuilding and shipyard operations using robotics and AI.

Selected research and student projects:

• LSP Ship Factory
• ShipWeldFlow
• LSP Komposit
• Several student projects (PhD, MSc, BSc) related to the projects

Description

Maritime logistics is essential for efficient port and terminal management. The integration of information and communication systems (ICT) and the use of digital twins for ports significantly enhance the process. Operational research and the application of data science and artificial intelligence will lead to more efficient and effective port and terminal management.

Selected research projects:

• Mission Project: Aims to digitize the maritime sector, enhancing safety and reducing port traffic, GHG emissions, and costs by optimizing just-in-time port arrivals.
• RoRoGren
• Spare parts logistics management: SDU researchers develop predictive models for spare parts demand and optimize inventory allocation.

Description

The SDU Centre for Industrial Electronics advances maritime robot automation through cutting-edge research and practical applications. In close collaboration with the maritime industry, the work spans underwater robotics, AI-driven automation control systems, and electronic technologies. For instance, Computer Vision and Deep Learning methods are innovatively adopted to replace traditional sensors, overcoming mechanical limitations in complex underwater environments. By integrating multi-object segmentation, machine learning algorithms, and autonomous control, the research supports the digital transformation of the maritime industry and contributes to the future of intelligent marine systems.

Selected research projects:

• Underwater polishing robot project
• ECO2-ferries 

Description 

The maritime domain is increasingly turning to green energy sources and alternative fuels to reduce its environmental impact. At SDU Energy Systems, research is dedicated to advancing sustainable maritime solutions through cutting-edge developments in green fuel production. A range of promising maritime fuel alternatives is emerging, redefining the future of maritime energy. Biofuels, derived from biomass and agricultural by-products, offer a sustainable and easily adaptable solution that integrates seamlessly with existing infrastructure. Methanol, a well-established fuel in transportation, is gaining momentum in shipping, though its viability depends on renewable production methods. Hydrogen is increasingly explored for maritime applications through fuel cells and combustion engines. Additionally, ammonia, traditionally used in agriculture, is now being investigated as a marine fuel due to its potential for renewable production.

Selected research projects:

• PtX plant in Kassø, (e-Methanol as a starting point into large-scale CO2-neutral shipping) 
• Danish- Australia Partnership on Green Hydrogen Value Chains, GINP
• Villum Young: Deciphering the Dynamics of Power-to-X Systems
• Green H2 and MeOH in DK - realizing cost leadership and scalability (GREMEOH)

Description

Life Cycle Engineering of maritime activities is a must if we are to reach national and European climate targets for GHG emissions of maritime industrial activities. The basic aim of Life Cycle Assessment is to optimize engineering solutions in an environmentally holistic and long-term perspective, considering a multitude of environmental impacts including:

• Climate impacts 
• Eutrophication
• Complex environmental impacts such as toxicological impacts on ecosystems
• Indirect land-use impacts

On top of climate and environmental concerns, the LCA methodology also allows for taking economic and socio-economic impacts into consideration.

As an example of recent project activities undertaken by SDU LCE, the Marine Transition Fuels project (MAT-FUELS) serves as a good example. The project focuses on assessing the sustainability of new fuels for maritime transport activities. Key aspects of the project include:

• Quantifying and assessing trade-offs between risks and sustainability of novel fuels
• Evaluating environmental risks associated with CO2-neutral fuels, including their physical and chemical properties, toxicity, and degradation dynamics

SDU LCE is responsible for assessing the sustainability of these novel fuels.  Read more about MAT-FUELS project.

Description

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is a public process of analyzing and allocating the spatial and temporal distribution of human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives specified through a political process (UNESCO IOC). MSP is not an end in itself but a practical approach to establishing a more rational use of marine space, balancing development demands with environmental protection, and delivering social and economic outcomes in an open and planned manner (UNESCO IOC).

At the UNESCO Chair on Urban Resilience Research Group, research and knowledge-sharing efforts focus on advancing MSP to strengthen the capacity of public institutions. Emphasis is placed on prioritizing an ecosystem-based approach and addressing climate-related challenges while ensuring sustainable marine planning.