The maritime industry is progressively transitioning towards sustainable practices, with a significant focus on integrating zero-emission power generation systems. However alternative fuels and technologies implementation on large scale is still pending.
Ships and especially yachts today are designed just for their immediate needs with no future consideration taken into account. This thesis addresses the need for adaptable power room designs in superyachts, facilitating the integration of zero-emission power generation systems as technology evolves. The primary aim is to develop a design method enabling easy retrofitting and future-proofing of yacht power rooms.
The research identifies the current design methods limitation where power rooms are designed for specific scenarios without considering future adaptability. To address this gap, the thesis proposes a three-step design method: layout concepts, design rationale, and a layout evaluation model. This model evaluates power room layouts based on Connection Costs and Retrofit Costs, offering indicators to assess future-proofing capabilities of power rooms arrangements.
A future-proof road-map based on four different scenarios was identified. By applying the design method to these scenarios, various layout concepts were developed, refined based on expert opinions and then evaluated with the model. The results highlight key practices for future-proofing power rooms, such as prioritizing connections between zero emissions power generation systems and auxiliary systems, pre-arranging transport equipment, and designing access openings to facilitate easy retrofitting.
This research underscores the need for a flexible approach to power room design, ensuring superyachts can transition smoothly to zero-emission operations in the coming years.