RESEARCH

DEVELOPMENT OF OUR KNOWLEDGE BASE

We help our clients to make ships cleaner, safer and smarter, while contributing to the sustainable use of the world’s oceans. To this end we develop key technologies: tools, methods and competences as foundation of MARIN. In our Maritime research programmes we use this foundation to develop knowledge to be used in our day-to-day projects. In our Mission-oriented research programmes, we propose and test innovative ideas as step-changes towards our mission.

KEY-ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES

CFD DEVELOPMENT

CFD is an important tool for obtaining a better understanding of the flow around ships and offshore structures. This programme focuses on the background development of viscous-flow CFD tools and techniques.

CFD DEVELOPMENT

CFD is an important tool for obtaining a better understanding of the flow around ships and offshore structures. This programme focuses on the background development of viscous-flow CFD tools and techniques.

TIME-DOMAIN SIMULATIONS & visualisation

Time-domain simulations & Visualisation study the motions of a structure or ship based on the force and momentum balance over a long period of time. We use these simulations for applications in engineering, experiments, simulations and on-board.

TIME-DOMAIN SIMULATIONS & visualisation

Time-domain simulations & Visualisation study the motions of a structure or ship based on the force and momentum balance over a long period of time. We use these simulations for applications in engineering, experiments, simulations and on-board.

MEASUREMENT & CONTROL

Measurement, control and analysis are essential for acquiring knowledge from numerical and experimental studies. This programme provides the tools and techniques needed to gain insight into full-scale and model-scale physics.

MEASUREMENT & CONTROL

Measurement, control and analysis are essential for acquiring knowledge from numerical and experimental studies. This programme provides the tools and techniques needed to gain insight into full-scale and model-scale physics.

Data science & Artificial intelligence

The Data Science & Artificial Intelligence research programme focuses on the development of data-driven technologies to solve both classical and new problems in the maritime domain.

Data science & Artificial intelligence

The Data Science & Artificial Intelligence research programme focuses on the development of data-driven technologies to solve both classical and new problems in the maritime domain.

Maritime RESEARCH PROGRAMMES

RESISTANCE & PROPULSION

We aim to improve the prediction and evaluation of the resistance, propulsion and cavitation hindrance of ships in order to get better ships and blue oceans.

RESISTANCE & PROPULSION

We aim to improve the prediction and evaluation of the resistance, propulsion and cavitation hindrance of ships in order to get better ships and blue oceans.

WAVES & MOTIONS

To ensure safe design and operation, we are developing the specialist tools and competences needed to assess response and operational limits of maritime structures.

WAVES & MOTIONS

To ensure safe design and operation, we are developing the specialist tools and competences needed to assess response and operational limits of maritime structures.

MANOEUVRING

Through this research programme we aim to help the maritime industry assess and improve the safety and efficiency of nautical operations, traffic flows and individual ships.

MANOEUVRING

Through this research programme we aim to help the maritime industry assess and improve the safety and efficiency of nautical operations, traffic flows and individual ships.

Shipping safety

In 2024, MARIN started the Maritime Safety Research Program commissioned by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, with the aim of improving the safety level in the North Sea through applied research on maritime safety.

Shipping safety

In 2024, MARIN started the Maritime Safety Research Program commissioned by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, with the aim of improving the safety level in the North Sea through applied research on maritime safety.

MISSION-ORIENTED RESEARCH PROGRAMMES

Safe OPERATIONS & HUMAN FACTORS

This program matches complex maritime operations with the capabilities of human operators eventually supported by advisory systems. It brings the end user into the design of operations and further improves the operation through studying (supported) operator performance and training development.

Safe OPERATIONS & HUMAN FACTORS

This program matches complex maritime operations with the capabilities of human operators eventually supported by advisory systems. It brings the end user into the design of operations and further improves the operation through studying (supported) operator performance and training development.

ZERO-EMISSION shipping

To realize (near) zero emission shipping solutions that contribute to a sustainable use of sea and resources while assuring reliable ship operations and meeting the ship functional requirements.

ZERO-EMISSION shipping

To realize (near) zero emission shipping solutions that contribute to a sustainable use of sea and resources while assuring reliable ship operations and meeting the ship functional requirements.

AUTONOMY & DECISION SUPPORT

Autonomy and decisions support can make the ships and its operation cleaner, safer and smarter. Autonomous shipping, automating manoeuvres, and supporting the crew with correct information at the correct time can unlock these advantages. MARIN is actively involved in advancing automation and decision support in the maritime industry to achieve higher levels of autonomy in shipping.

AUTONOMY & DECISION SUPPORT

Autonomy and decisions support can make the ships and its operation cleaner, safer and smarter. Autonomous shipping, automating manoeuvres, and supporting the crew with correct information at the correct time can unlock these advantages. MARIN is actively involved in advancing automation and decision support in the maritime industry to achieve higher levels of autonomy in shipping.

BLUE GROWTH

Blue Growth stands for a sustainable use of the sea. It is a broad topic including renewable energy, infrastructure, aquaculture and tourism.

BLUE GROWTH

Blue Growth stands for a sustainable use of the sea. It is a broad topic including renewable energy, infrastructure, aquaculture and tourism.
Publications
Paper
Predicting the dynamics of a gas pocket during breaking wave impacts using machine learning

30 Mar 2025

We investigate the feasibility and accuracy of a machine learning model to predict the dynamics of a gas pocket that is formed when a breaking wave ...
Paper
Ship course-keeping in waves using sample-efficient reinforcement learning

1 Feb 2025

Maintaining a steady course in waves is important for ships for various reasons such as safety, fuel efficiency, and comfort. This has commonly been ...
Magazine
A Changing of the guard - Introducing MARIN's two new directors

17 Dec 2024

As MARIN President Bas Buchner steps down after 14 years at the helm, for the first time in the institute’s history his role will be replaced by two ...