Material
Here’s how aluminium makes shipbuilding more sustainable.
Lightweight construction
Less weight – more added value
- Aluminium has one third of the density of steel. The weight reduction potential relative to steel is about 40%.
- That translates to reduced engine horsepower requirements, lower fuel consumption, extended range, and a smaller environmental footprint – this is particularly true for hybrid and battery-powered ships.
- And higher speeds can be attained with the same energy expenditure.
Source: Van der Valk shipyard
Safety
Safety is the top priority in shipbuilding – in both commercial shipping and recreational applications. This obviously encompasses not only the safety of the crew and guests on board, but also that of the ship itself and of its cargo. And it is especially important in the event of a collision with floating objects or stationary obstacles such as rocks and ice. But a ship's structure and all the equipment installed on it must also withstand other extremes, such as fire and extreme temperatures.
Source: Turner Photography
Reliable - robust - economical
In the commercial segment, owners clearly benefit from the aluminium’s positive characteristics. This applies to vessels and offshore facilities.
If you want to operate your marine equipment 52 weeks a year, you need to be able to rely on it. And aluminium boats are perfectly suited to that purpose:
- Robust and damage-resistant
- Excellent repair capabilities
- Low maintenance costs
- Reduced fuel costs due to light-weight construction
- Higher residual value and good recycling options at the end of service life
Maintenance
Aluminium withstands the elements
A well-designed and well-built aluminium vessel is practically maintenance-free.
- No rot or decay
- No corrosion or weakening of the material
- Impermeable to chemicals, UV radiation and other environmental factors
- Antifouling paint and sacrificial anodes are all that is needed to protect the hull
- No paint is required above the waterline or on the superstructure – and that makes tremendous cost savings possible.
- The amount of environmentally harmful paint particles released into the oceans is also kept to a minimum.
Source: Arksen
Recycling and reusability
Aluminium offers endless possibilities
Aluminium can be recycled infinitely without loss of quality or material degradation. Aluminium scrap is in high demand. For that reason, aluminium vessels still retain high commercial value at the end of their life cycle. Moreover, their CO2 footprint is regarded as zero. And the recycling of aluminium vessels ultimately saves energy: Just 5% of the energy required for manufacturing in the primary process must be applied for the recycling process.
Aluminium – sustainable and efficient
Aluminium is part of the solution for more sustainable shipbuilding.
Easy production – endless resources: 8% of the earth’s crust consists of aluminium.
Good recycling – Aluminium can be recycled infinitely and without quality loss, which dramatically reduces its carbon footprint.
Positive material properties – Aluminium is lightweight, easy to process, corrosion-resistant and safe.
Major design benefits – A clever combination of plates and extruded profiles enables intelligent naval architecture.
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Aluminium solutions for sustainable shipbuilding
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