In recent years, DTU has significantly expanded its activities within the maritime domain. Over the past decade, the university has carried out more than 50 maritime research projects and established two maritime chairs. These two professorships ensure close ties between the university and industry and play a key role in educating the next generation of engineers by ensuring that students acquire relevant competencies and an in-depth understanding of the maritime sector.
The new grant will enable DTU to initiate additional maritime research projects and further consolidate the two maritime chairs.
“We are very pleased that this grant will enable our researchers to address some of the major challenges facing the maritime sector in the years ahead,” says Christine Nellemann, Provost at DTU.
“These include the development of new and more efficient sustainable maritime technologies, enhanced stability and safety at sea, reduced emissions, and increased consideration of marine biodiversity. All in all, it is a very broad research palette that must be addressed in an interdisciplinary manner, involving expertise from many different academic environments at DTU.”
Strengthening society’s knowledge base
Previous grants to DTU’s maritime research have already made a significant contribution to addressing key societal challenges.
One example is DTU’s research on the discharge of chemically contaminated water from ship exhaust gas cleaning systems, known as scrubbers. Until now, ships have been permitted to discharge scrubber water into the sea. From July 2025, however, this practice is prohibited in Danish waters. The ban aligns with the maritime sector’s transition towards greater sustainability and is based on DTU research documenting the harmful effects of scrubber water on the entire marine food chain - from plankton to fish.
Digital twin to support data-driven and efficient operations
One of the research initiatives enabled by the new grant is the development of a digital twin of Denmark’s forthcoming research vessel Dana V, which is currently under construction for DTU.
The digital twin will be based on advanced numerical models and data from sensors on the ship.
Through the work with the digital twin, data will be collected from Dana V's voyages. This data will be used to verify and improve the numerical models of ship navigation developed by DTU, so that they correspond even more closely to real-world conditions. These models cover, among other things, the ship's engines, propellers, the ship's speed through water, movements in waves, and more.
The models will form the basis for operational recommendations to Dana V’s operations, but also to other operators' ships - contributing to more efficient sailing, reduced environmental impact, and increased maritime safety. At the same time, data from Dana V will be used in the training of future engineers, inviting students to work on projects involving validation and further development of the numerical models based on the data obtained.
The grant from A/S Dampskibsselskabet Orient’s Fond will run for the next five years and is the largest to date.
