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World’s fi rst 3D-printed propeller unveiled at Damen shipyard


The world’s fi rst class-approved 3D-printed propeller – known as the WAAMpeller – was unveiled at the end of November at Damen’s shipyard in Rotterdam. The 1.35m diameter propeller was produced


using wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) techniques and is the result of a collaboration between the Rotterdam Additive Manufacturing Lab (RAMLAB), Promarin, Bureau Veritas, Autodesk, and Damen. When a ship needs repairing, it can sometimes take weeks to source replacement parts if they’re not already in stock. The WAAMpeller project strived to show that additive manufacturing technologies —


combined with traditional subtractive manufacturing methods — can produce replacement parts in a matter of days. The fi rst WAAMpeller prototype was


completed in August and production of the second version started immediately with the aim of achieving class certifi cation. “Production of the second WAAMpeller was


greatly improved because we had learned a lot from producing the prototype,” says Vincent Wegener, managing director of RAMLAB. “This mainly concerned the hardware/


software interaction because, when laying down 298 layers of nickel aluminium bronze alloy, it is important to have a tight control on


all process parameters.” The project’s fi nal phase involved operational testing on a Damen Stan Tug 1606. The tests, overseen by Bureau Veritas on 20 November, included speed trials, as well as bollard pull and crash stop tasks. “We are pleased to report that the WAAMpeller displayed the same behaviour as a conventional casted propeller in all of the tests,” says Kees Custers, Damen project engineer for R&D. “This includes the same level of performance in the crash stop scenario, which – going from full throttle ahead to full throttle reverse – is the heaviest loading that a propeller can experience.”


New autonomous vessel test site opens in Norway


nated for use in autonomous pilot schemes by the Norwegian Maritime Administration, as well as the country’s Coastal Administration. Kongsberg worked alongside


the town of Horten, DNV GL, the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, and the University College of South East Norway to establish the test bed. The introduction of the Horten


Kongsberg has opened an autonomous shipping test bed adjacent to its facility in Horten, Norway. The site is the third of its kind in the country and only the fourth such approved area anywhere in the world.


Established to support the


development of autonomous technologies in the maritime sector, the test bed will offer a safe, convenient, and open space to trial new solutions. It has been specially desig-


site follows the opening of the world’s fi rst autonomous shipping test bed, which is located in Norway’s Trondheimsfjord and was supported by Kongsberg. These sites are crucial to the


ongoing development of Kongsberg’s technologies,


including the YARA Birkeland, a planned all-electric and autono-


mous container ship, and the Hrönn autonomous offshore support vessel. “The move towards greater


autonomy at sea has the potential to transform maritime operations and, while the technology has now been proven, we look towards the regulations,”says Egil Haugsdal, president of Kongsberg Maritime. “Establishment of these test


beds is an important step, as it shows the close cooperation between the people making the technology and the vessels and the organisations developing the regulations that will allow them to operate.”


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