marilight 2: pre deployment testing of a tapping ring
Malin Marine Consultants (MMC), part of Malin Group and FEED, feasibility and early concept design specialists, were delighted to last week successfully complete pre-deployment testing of an optimised, 3D printed tapping ring. This latest test, spanning both hydrostatic and leak testing, as stipulated by Lloyds Register rules, marked the completion of MariLight 2, a ground-breaking project that sought to promote the adoption of large-scale additive manufacturing within the industry.
LEADING Large scale additive manufacturing (LSAM)
Funded by Innovate UK*, and building on the original MariLight feasibility project, this latest study looked to investigate and further develop Large Scale Additive Manufacturing (LSAM) technologies that will revolutionise the way ships, boats, and other marine structures are designed and fabricated in the UK. Not only did the project seek to modify the ways in which structures were produced, in this case printed, but also how they are designed, offering optimised, light weighted options that are therefore more efficient, sustainable and cost effective.
Understandably pre deployment testing in these circumstances becomes crucial, with testing required to ensure that the 3D-printed tapping ring meets design specifications, performs reliably, adheres to safety standards, and avoids costly failures in the field. In effect, it acts as a final checkpoint to confirm the design’s viability before it is fully deployed in its operational environment.
Whilst the testing was being undertaken on site, comprising of both hydrostatic and leak testing, we also invited Lloyd’s Register to act as a witness, which ensured compliance with the rules. The team were delighted to report no leaks proven throughout the application of consistent pressure, with the optimised, 3D printed tapping ring thereby meeting the required standards.
You can find out more about the MariLight projects, the wider set of MariLight partners, and full case study of the pre-deployment tests below.
*The MariLight 2 project is funded by UK Government through the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme in the Department for Transport. UK SHORE has allocated over £200m since 2022 to develop the technologies necessary to decarbonise the UK maritime sector and capture the economic growth opportunity of the transition. Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the main delivery partner for UK SHORE interventions.
Malin marine consultants are specialists in concept development, FEED & feasibility studies and research and innovation projects – and they offer clients a single point of contact, with access the wider expertise and proven capabilities of Malin Group
MariLight was a feasibility study which aimed to lightweight ship structures to reduce CO2 emissions, making the industry cleaner for the environment. The project team consisted of Malin Marine Consultants (part of Malin Group), Altair Engineering, BAE Systems, Lloyd’s Register, and the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS).