Recycled Aluminium for sustainable shipbuilding
The demand for eco-friendly solutions in yacht building is growing. Speira is therefore all the more pleased about the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) certification of VIA Maris Njørdal, a high-strength 5000 series alloy used in shipbuilding and the offshore industry.
In collaboration with Water Revolution Foundation (WRF) and external partner Alea Design, a spin-off from the University of Modena Reggio Emilia, the alloy further developed by Speira was analysed in comparison to the previously used solution. The life cycle analysis, methodologically outlined by ISO 14040, shows the improved performance of VIA Maris Njørdal compared to VIA Maris 5083: with a 15 percent higher strength, the innovative aluminium solution enables an up to 15 percent reduction in the use of materials in shipbuilding.
The LCA results are currently being used to create Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for both VIA Maris 5083 and VIA Maris Njørdal. Speira thus follows the understanding that sustainability and transparency are inseparable and shows how its aluminium sheets impact the environment in ship, yacht and boat building.
“Our mission is to continously push the boundaries of aluminium, particularly in terms of sustainability,” explains Reinhard Pritzlaff, Technical Advisor at Speira. “With VIA Maris Njørdal, we are demonstrating that technical performance and a more responsible use of resources can go hand in hand.”
Find the LCA’s summary in Water Revolution Foundation’s Hub of Verified Solutions.
Improving both sustainability and mechanical properties
Based on many years of experience in the production of high-strength 5000 series alloys, Speira's VIA Maris products are the perfect solution for applications in the maritime and offshore industry. They offer a more eco-friendly, easy-to-process material with a low CO2 footprint. Yacht builder Arksen from London, for example, is already using Speira's marine-grade aluminium for its new Explorer yachts.
With the Arksen 85, the company is presenting its first vessel with hybrid propulsion, which is low-maintenance, efficient and less resource-intensive over its entire life cycle and is set to become part of a planned fleet of more environmentally conscious yachts for marine research and conservation.
“Njørdal is a really exciting product for Arksen, not only does it have higher mechanical properties than many grades in marine aluminium, but also has a higher recycled content, which is a really key thing for Arksen in our sustainability pathway,” says Jim Mair, Technical Director at Arksen. The use of Speira’s alloy is featured in a case study.
Eco-friendly solution for challenging conditions
Another proof point for the VIA Maris Njørdal alloy improving sustainability in shipbuilding is the 30 m crew transfer vessel “Seacat Columbia”. Designed in partnership by BAR Technologies / Chartwell Marine Ltd and built by Diverse Marine, it features a highly optimized multihull design. It consists of a main hull with two waterjets and a stabilizing outrigger – a concept well known from the time of the ancient Polynesian sailors. The main part of the aluminium hull is left unpainted and requires only low maintenance, which contributes to cost-effective operation of the vessel.
“The vessel was designed to address the two most pressing challenges of the offshore wind industry: vessel efficiency – and therefore emissions reduction – and the comfort in transfer. In the first instance, many of the major offshore wind developers and owners are now beginning to look at the fossil fuel consumption in wind farm service vessels,” says BAR Technologies.
The Seacat Columbia aluminium vessel is designed to minimize vessel motion and fuel burn – leading to an average increase in stability across all sea states of up to 70% and a reduction in total emissions of 30% over a typical operational profile.
Additionally, BAR Technologies states the highly innovative vessel is able to operate in more challenging conditions than the current catamaran designs and offshore wind turbines may be serviced over a greater number of sea states, ensuring wind farm owners have more opportunities to better and more cost-effectively provide turbine maintenance.
VIA Maris Njørdal ‘s 15% higher strength provides the ideal material properties for the innovative design of the Seacat Columbia. The high strength-to-weight ratio of this alloy enables a more robust and durable construction for the demanding and long-term use of the crew transfer vessel. At the same time, the material savings make the vessel lighter, which in turn improves fuel efficiency and reduces overall emissions. This is also featured in a case study.
Guiding engineers and shipyards on how to further reduce the environmental footprint
Speira is committed to developing low-carbon solutions in shipbuilding, and being recognised by Water Revolution Foundation is an important step in this direction. The independent LCA certification of VIA Maris Njørdal is a seal of innovation and quality and a valuable guide for engineers and shipyards on how to further reduce the environmental footprint of the maritime industry by choosing the right aluminium solution.
Want to know more about Speira VIA Maris Njørdal for lighter and safer vessels? Visit www.speira.com/markets-products/shipbuilding-transport/shipbuilding/.