GATERS

European Commission’s H2020 Framework sponsors the three years of Innovation Action project GATERS with
18 partners with a 5.9M EUR total budget. The project was kicked-off on 24 Feb 2021 to achieve its aims andobjectives within the nine work packages (WP) .

WP1 is the main engine of GATERS which is led by the partner Strathclyde University (UoS) to develop the best methodology for designing and retrofitting the project target ship (MV ERGE) with a gate rudder system (GRS) using the computational model test-based and full-scale-based procedures. In the second six months of the project, the most pressing activity of the project was the completion of the detailed design of the retrofit GRS to secure class approval from BV. The CFD campaign of WP1 has been well underway for modelling the two target ships (i.e. MV ERGE and Shigenobu) with the gate rudder and conventional rudder systems (CRS) to develop an accurate CFD based prediction methods for powering, manoeuvring and seakeeping in the model and full-scale.

WP2 is led by partner CETENA and involves the full-scale trials and voyage performance monitoring of MV ERGE before and after the GRS retrofitting to assess the benefits of the GRS in terms of powering, manoeuvring, emissions, hull pressure, vibration, and underwater radiated noise.The performance monitoring campaign was kicked off in October 21 using CETENA’s data acquisition system. In the meantime, an agreement was reached with the Lamma Consortium to purchase the met-ocean data on the vessel routes to facilitate the performance data analyses. The WP is also making necessary preparations for the sea trials before and after the retrofitting, which is expected to take place in October/November 2022.

WP3 is led by the partner Hidroteknik (HYD) and involves the detailed engineering design of the GRS components on the target vessel. In the last six months of the project, following the initial hydrodynamic design of the GRS by the partner UoS, the detailed designs of the GRS blades, propeller and shaft were completed.

WP4 is led by the partner Gurdesan (GURD) and involves manufacturing the GRS components and installation on the MV ERGE. The strategic planning for removing the existing CRS and installation of the GRS hasalready been done. Manufacturing of the components is due to start following securing the class approval that will continue with the sea trials and retrofitting task in October/November 2022.

WP7 facilitates the project communications, dissemination and exploitation (CDE) activities led by the partner TWI. Following the busy first six months CDE activities to raise the project profile in Europe and globally, the CDE activities continued in the second six months. The activities included the official integration of the association of the Turkish Coaster Shipowner (KOSDER) into the GATERS Industry Advisory Board. Furthermore, the project was presented at three consecutive international conferences via three keynote presentations. These events were the 2nd Int’l Congress GMO-SHIPMAR 2021 (16-17 Sept), 4th Greentech Shipping Virtual Forum 2021 (Oct 19), and 7th Int’l Conference ISCOT 2021 (19-20 Nov). Also, GATERS had an invitation from the International Chamber of Shipping to display the project activities in the “Shaping the Future of Shipping” conference/exhibition event on 5-6 Nov 2021 in conjunction with the global climate meeting, COP’26 event in Glasgow. In this event, GATERS was presented to the global VIP audience, including the UK and other foreign ministers and the IMO secretary, through the effective dissemination of materials prepared and displayed.

WP8 is led by the project coordinator, UoS and involves GATERS’ technical and financial management. During the last six month period, WP8 arranged the regular WP and task meetings for the active WPs. In addition, the 3 rd and 4th Steering Committee (21st Oct 2021 & 17th Feb 2022, resp.) and the 2 nd General Assembly (23rd Feb 2022) meetings, the 1st Industry Advisory Board (24th Feb 2022) meeting were held successfully.