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GATERS Won The 2021 RINA-QINETIQ Maritime Innovation Award

Thu, 29 September, 2022

The 2021 Maritime Innovation award was presented to Dr Noriyuki Sasaki, the Honorary Professor of Strathclyde University, for the development of the Gate Rudder System, which has demonstrated not only improved manoeuvring of the system but also achieved significant gains, 18% reduction in power, up to 30% in normal operation as well a reduction of emitted noise. The award was presented to him during the 20th Int’l Conference on Computer Applications in Shipbuilding (ICCAS) in Japan September 2022 following his keynote presentation.

The Maritime Innovation Award, which is presented in conjunction with QinetiQ to an individual or organisation, recognises outstanding scientific or technical research in the areas of hydrodynamics, propulsion, structures, and material and which offers the potential to make a significant improvement in the design, construction and operation of marine vessels and structures.

The 2021 RINA-QINETIQ Maritime Innovation award is presented to Dr Sasaki by the RINA representative Dr Ponkratov during the 20th Int’l Conference on Computer Applications in Shipbuilding (ICCAS) in Japan
The 2021 RINA-QINETIQ Maritime Innovation award is presented to Dr Sasaki by the RINA representative Dr Ponkratov during the 20th Int’l Conference on Computer Applications in Shipbuilding (ICCAS) in Japan

In terms of the worldwide exploitation of the gate rudder technology, Wartsila acquired the Licence for future development, sales and servicing of the gate rudders in 2020 in agreement with the patent stakeholders, Kuribayashi Steamship Co, Dr Sasaki, The National Institution of Maritime, Port and Aviation Technology (NIMPAT, Japan), Kamome Propeller and Yamanaka Shipbuilding. Moreover, in 2021, The EC awarded the Gate Rudder System as a Retrofit for the Next generation Propulsion and Steering of Ships (GATERS) project with its 18 European partners under the framework of Horizon 2020, coordinated and led by the University of Strathclyde. The GATERS project is in the process of demonstrating the first retrofit application of the Gate Rudder System on a European Coastal Ship. The GATERS project members have designed, and tank tested the Gate Rudder System for their target vessel MV ERGE. The preliminary towing tank self-propulsion analysis of the developed system has shown more than 10% power reduction compared to its present arrangement with a conventional flap rudder system. Detailed voyage monitoring and sea trials conducted before and to be conducted after the Gate Rudder System retrofit, which is planned for the first half of 2023, will further confirm the mutual gain of this novel system.

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