PRR Project

Summary

The Centre for Marine Technology and Ocean Engineering of Associação do Instituto Superior Técnico para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento, CENTEC/IST-ID, a world leader in the field and the only research centre in Portugal dedicated exclusively to this subject area and supporting the Bachelor, Master and Doctoral degree in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering. The University of Lisbon is the largest in Portugal, hosting IST-ID and CENTEC-IST. It has been ranked in the 2023 Shanghai University Ranking as the number one University in Europe (4th Worldwide) in Marine/Ocean Engineering.However, in this rapidly changing field, it needs to keep abreast of changes in the market, both international and mainly European, to keep and improve upon this prestigious and lucrative status. A huge hole in the scientific area in terms of research and teaching is the naval architecture of Yacht and Small Craft. This hole exists not only within CENTEC/IST-ID but also in the country as a whole, and if CENTEC/IST-ID does not fill it, others certainly have plans to do so.Two of the main (intertwined) drivers of this rapid change in the market are (i) the current environmental emergency and (ii) the development of previously unfeasible/unprofitable types of craft and technologies. (i) has suddenly and belatedly driven an explosion of research into many different ‘alternative’ solutions, including, but not limited to, hydrofoiling, ‘bio’ and other alternative materials and structural solutions, and renewable energy propulsion. (ii) is also driven by (i) but has in large part, only become possible due to the recent developments in lightweight composites technology. At the moment, this explosion is running before it can walk – despite the marketing hype there is a severe lack of scientific and engineering understanding behind the scenes, especially outside small and closed proprietary ‘walled gardens’.Any consideration of the Portuguese industry is not complete without mentioning Tourism, and this is yet another Small Craft opportunity waiting to be grasped. ‘Tourism Small craft’ provides opportunities in three sub-areas: (a) Tourist craft, including those for tours (both of cities, and countryside and nature) and sporting activities (such as surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, diving, water skiing etc.) (b) Recreational Boating (by definition, ‘yachts’), and (c) Traditional and historical sailing craft. Portugal is blessed with amazing natural resources when considering recreational boating but is equally amazingly underdeveloped in this respect. Research and support for traditional sailing vessels is a critical necessity both for salvation from the impending extinction of the skills of this integral part of Portuguese culture and for its successful continued integration into the tourist market (both in terms of the maintenance, conversion and development of the remaining vessels and the art and science of building them).In terms of international collaboration, certain aspects of the area’s activity will benefit from the use of experimental facilities currently unavailable in IST-ID. Within CENTEC such collaborations have already been instigated with the use of both the cavitation tunnel at Newcastle, UK and the towing tank at Southampton, UK.The development of this area is aligned with the following three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation, and 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.The tasks envisaged include:Development of research into Yacht & Small Craft areas, including Yacht and Small craft design; Hydrofoils; Environmentally friendly materials and structures; Traditional craft,Liaison and collaboration with local modern and traditional boatbuilding industry,Development of international collaborations with industry and research partners,Development of experimental resources.This will require the employment of a tenured full-time assistant researcher. The Scientific profile required is one highly successful and experienced in relevant research areas, including Yachts and Small Craft; Hydrofoils; Marine composites; Environmentally friendly marine materials and structures. Further, they must be experienced in: Naval Architecture teaching and supervision, including the development of new courses; Implementing new and maintaining existing experimental facilities; Attracting talent in an academic Naval Architecture environment; Real-world, hands-on knowledge of Yachts and Small Craft; Real-world Engineering and Design of small / sailing craft; Traditional Portuguese sailing craft design; Developing and completing international and local, research and industrial, collaborations.