SDU Maritime Research Platform
The SDU Maritime Research Platform was established in 2022 based on a donation from A/S Dampskibsselskabet Orient’s Fond. The platform consists of maritime research projects in four faculties across the University of Southern Denmark, mostly PhD and postdoc projects, and the platform has a special focus on the offshore cluster.
All projects in the SDU Maritime Research Platform are related to work packages that are rooted in strong research groups across the university. At the same time, researchers in the platform meet regularly to discuss their research in a highly interdisciplinary setting. The platform also has a strong focus on relations to the industry.
Work packages
• Business History: Development of Maritime Clusters
• Business Strategy and Logistics
• Vessel Motion and Vibrations: Crew Health, Safety and Work Environment
• Performance Analysis – Energy Efficiency and Maintenance
• Co-Creation of Maritime Regulation
• Risk Governance Framework for the Energy Island
Steering committee
Marie Lützen (Engineering), Niels Rytter(Engineering), Kristina Maria Siig (Social Science), Lisa Loloma Froholdt (Health Sciences) and Jeppe Nevers (Humanities).
The project is funded by A/S Dampskibsselskabet Orient’s Fond.
Project period: October 2022 to December 2026.
WP 1: Business History: Development of Maritime Clusters
WP 1 is based in the SDU Centre for Business History, where there is a special interest in understanding the complex histories behind the wide variety of strongholds in the Danish business system in the context of globalization and Europeanization: How were these strongholds developed in interaction with the surrounding society, and what are the characteristics of that form of capitalism that came to be the economic foundation for the welfare states in Denmark and Northern Europe?
WP 1 is a collection of projects that will explore the Danish maritime sector from this perspective, as the maritime sector is a cornerstone of the Danish economy. There will be a focus on the offshore cluster, but research in this package will also deal with other aspects of the maritime sector. This includes the development of the maritime education system and more broadly the role of the state in the formation of competitive clusters.
Contact: Jeppe Nevers (Humanities)
WP 2: Business Strategy and Logistics
WP 2 is based at SDU's Faculty of Technology. This WP aims at building models and simulation methods that can address industrial challenges related to forecasting demands for offshore maritime services. The assessment of financial outcomes of future investments in different categories of offshore vessels and the required infrastructure in ports, logistics, energy installations, skill development etc. will also be addressed.
WP 2 will investigate how offshore maritime projects growing in number, size and complexity will impact procedures for planning and scheduling operations of offshore vessels. The outcomes of WP 2 will be decision support models capable of making the offshore and maritime industry more cost-efficient, sustainable and competitive.
Contact: Niels Rytter (Engineering)
WP 3: Vessel Motion and Vibrations: Vessel and Crew Health, Safety and Work Environment
WP 3 is carried out in collaboration between the faculties for Health and Engineering. Vessels operating in the offshore sector are heavily exposed – they operate in waters with strong winds and big waves. When making room for crews to disembark and enter the turbine, ship operations close to wind turbines or offshore constructions require fast maneuvers with varied speed as well as frequent starts and stops.
The work is concentrated on the identification of consequences of motion and vibration for both vessel and crew. The heavy usage will rapidly wear out the equipment on board and, in some cases, also cause and accelerate damages. The physical and psychological stressors involved in working onboard these vessels will be identified and possible solutions to minimizing the impact of the stressors on the crews’ work environment.
Contact: Marie Lützen (Engineering), Lisa Loloma Froholdt (Health Sciences)
WP 4: Performance analysis – energy efficiency and maintenance
WP 4 is carried out in collaboration between the faculties for Health and Engineering. Vessels in the offshore sector have very complex operational patterns, often driven by the weather and limited periods for work allowance. Operating these vessels energy-efficient, requires a data driven decision support system and that the crew and office are deeply involved.
This WP will have a socio-technical focus on co-creating optimal systems with the crew and industry which ensures an effective feedback loop for transforming knowledge from data analysis into practical use. The knowledge will be used to create practical cases for teaching purposes at maritime schools.
Contact: Marie Lützen (Engineering), Lisa Loloma Froholdt (Health Sciences)
WP 5: Co-Creation of Maritime Regulation
WP 5 is placed in SDU's Faculty of Social Science and investigates how rules are created in the maritime sector. The maritime sector is regulated on national, regional as well as international levels. However, the creation of this regulation is characterized by a high level of interaction between public institutions and private entities. In other words: The maritime industry has managed to obtain a high degree of influence on the regulation under which it operates. This even to an extent which is unparalleled in other sectors.
This interaction can be both beneficial and counter-productive in respect to the goals which the maritime industry is expected to achieve, such as transition to the green agenda, good working environments.
Contact: Kristina Maria Siig (Social Science)
WP 6: Risk Governance Framework for Maritime Operations in Relation to the Energy Islands
WP 6 is based at SDU's Faculty of Health Science. Energy islands are seen as a paradigm shift in the green transition. They will supply several countries with renewable energy and form part of the Danish and international critical infrastructure, which will come with new risks. The objective of the project is to set up a risk governance framework for maritime activities taking place on and around the islands, such as the transportation of energy, products and materials, and operational and maintenance teams to and from the islands.
The work package will be carried out in collaboration with stakeholders to make decisions regarding, specific technical solutions and managing Health Safety and Environmental risks.
Contact: Lisa Loloma Froholdt (Health Sciences)