Projects

Our projects drive maritime innovation

ShippingLab brings together maritime stakeholders to co-create solutions for the future of shipping. Our projects are all aimed at strengthening Denmark’s global maritime position and accelerating the green transition.

Explore our ongoing projects below.

SLGREEN

Green Transition of the Blue Denmark through Digitalization, Decarbonization, and Safety

Launched in May 2024, SLGREEN is a three-year, cross-sector innovation project under the ShippingLab platform. Supported by Innovation Fund Denmark, the Danish Maritime Fund, and the Lauritzen Foundation, the project brings together more than 20 partners from industry, academia, and public institutions to accelerate the green transition of the Danish maritime sector.

SLGREEN focuses on three interconnected pillars: digitalisation, decarbonisation, and safety. By advancing digital tools, data-driven operations, and autonomous technologies, the project aims to enable smarter and more efficient ship operations. At the same time, it supports the adoption of low- and zero-emission fuels through practical, scalable solutions. Underpinning both areas is the development of robust safety concepts and validation methods to ensure that innovation goes hand in hand with risk management and regulatory acceptance.

Through hands-on testing, cross-sector collaboration, and shared innovation, SLGREEN aims to provide the foundations for a more sustainable, digital, and safe future for the Blue Denmark.

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Objectives:
  • Reduce CO₂ emissions from the Danish fleet by 25% by 2030.
  • Increase maritime sector turnover by 30% by 2030.
  • Attract 40% more students to maritime MSc programs.

 

Key focus areas:
  • Digitalization: Developing advanced digital tools, including digital twins, for improved ship design and performance prediction under real-life conditions.
  • Decarbonization: Implementing technologies to enhance energy efficiency, such as biofouling prediction models and condition monitoring systems for marine engines.
  • Safety: Enhancing crew comfort and health and developing systems for digital piloting and remote navigation to reduce risks associated with traditional piloting methods.

 

Expected outcome:

By fostering collaboration across various stakeholders, SLGREEN aims to position Denmark at the forefront of sustainable maritime innovation, contributing to global efforts in reducing maritime emissions and enhancing operational efficiency.

 

Work Packages

SLGREEN comprises seven work packages, five of which are technical:

WP1 – Digital twin ship design for real-life conditions in waves
Development and testing of digital twin tools for vessel design optimised for wave conditions, enabling performance and fuel efficiency improvements.

WP2 – Digital twin for hull performance and biofouling
Creation of a predictive digital twin model that helps manage and mitigate hull fouling, aiming to reduce drag and improve energy efficiency.

WP3 – Digital twin for condition monitoring of engines
Focuses on predictive wear and maintenance modelling for marine engines using high-frequency data, aiming for better performance and longer engine life.

WP4 – Digital land-based pilotage and remote navigation
Development of an integrated sensor and navigation platform for digital pilotage, supporting safe and efficient remote control of vessels.

WP5 – Digital models for crew comfort
Development of a tool to assess and improve the onboard environment for crew — including noise, light, air quality and vibrations — supporting wellbeing and efficiency.

WP6 – Human-technology interaction (Anthropological)
An anthropological study of how humans interact with the technologies developed in WP1–WP5, aiming to ensure usability, acceptance and organisational relevance.

WP7 – Legal outreach and dissemination
Legal analysis of regulatory gaps and barriers connected to WP1–WP5, offering proposals for legal adaptation and dissemination to national and international stakeholders.

 

Partners in SLGREEN

A.P. Møller-Mærsk, Aerotak, Aprendio, DanPilot, Esvagt, FORCE Technology, Hapag-Lloyd, Hempel, MAN Energy Solutions, MHo-CO, Navigator Gas, NORDEN, OSK Design, Svendborg International, Maritime Academy – SIMAC, Technical University of Denmark – DTU, Torm, University of Aarhus, University of Copenhagen – KU, University of Southern Denmark – SDU, Vessel Performance Solutions, WeatherNews Inc., Western Bulk, World Maritime University.

METAFUEL

Removing fire safety barriers for green maritime fuels

The maritime sector is undergoing a rapid green transition, with increasing interest in alternative fuels such as methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen. These fuels, however, present new fire risks that are not adequately addressed by existing safety standards and practices. For many shipowners and designers, uncertainty around fire safety remains a key barrier to investment – effectively a showstopper.

METAFUEL is a strategic project led by the Danish Institute of Fire and Security Technology (DBI) in collaboration with ShippingLab and supported by the Danish Maritime Fund and DBI. Running from 2024 through 2025, the project aims to develop a practical, risk-based tool to support the safe and scalable implementation of green fuels at sea.

The tool will help ship designers, operators, and authorities create tailored fire safety strategies—regardless of ship type, retrofit status, or specific fuel setup. It will integrate international best practices, data from fire tests, and stakeholder insights from Danish shipowners, yards, and classification societies.

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Objective

The objective of METAFUEL is to develop a flexible, risk-based tool that enables ship designers, operators, and regulators to plan and implement effective fire safety strategies for vessels using green fuels. The tool will support decision-making across different vessel types and fuel configurations and help ensure that safety standards keep pace with the sector’s transition to low- and zero-emission technologies.

 

Key focus areas:
  • Crew safety: Develop specific guidelines for crew training, protective equipment, and emergency procedures based on the unique risks of each fuel.
  • Technology readiness: Identify and evaluate fire detection and suppression technologies that match a variety of ship designs and fuel systems.
  • Risk-based design support: Create a flexible methodology to assess fire risks and guide safety design decisions for both newbuilds and retrofits.
  • Practical application: Test and validate the tool using real-world ship design cases involving methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen.

 

Expected outcome:

METAFUEL will deliver a structured and scalable approach to fire safety that can be used by shipowners, designers, and regulators. The goal is to reduce uncertainty, lower barriers, and support the broader adoption of climate-neutral fuels. The tool can also serve as a foundation for dialogue with authorities and for the development of future safety standards – helping accelerate the maritime sector’s green transition.

Alarm Management Practice at Sea

Enhancing maritime safety through improved alarm systems

Conducted under the ShippingLab platform, the Alarm Management Practice at Sea project aims to strengthen onboard safety by addressing the growing complexity of alarm systems in modern maritime operations. As vessels adopt new technologies and alternative fuels, the ability to manage alarms effectively has become increasingly critical – not just for operational performance, but for protecting crew and assets at sea.

The project builds on a clear need: maritime accident reports consistently show that crews are often overwhelmed by the sheer number, frequency, and quality of alarms – leading to delayed or incorrect responses. This challenge is expected to intensify with the transition to green fuels like ammonia, hydrogen, and methanol, which may require immediate action due to their specific chemical properties.

In contrast to sectors such as nuclear power and process engineering, the maritime industry lacks internationally recognised standards for alarm quality, prioritisation, and response times. This project seeks to close that gap by analysing current alarm practices, learning from high-reliability industries, and proposing practical improvements that are tailored to the realities of life at sea.

By combining cross-sector insights with input from seafarers, system developers, and maritime authorities, the project contributes to a more robust and future-proof safety culture – one that can support both traditional operations and the demands of a greener, more digitalised fleet.

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Objective:

The objective of the project is to improve the quality and effectiveness of alarm systems on board ships by identifying best practices, adapting proven standards from other industries, and validating new approaches in realistic maritime settings. The project aims to lay the groundwork for future international standards and support a more resilient, safe, and sustainable maritime industry.

 

Key focus areas
  • Cross-industry learning: Analyse and adapt alarm management standards from high-reliability sectors such as nuclear and process industries.
  • Response-time-based design: Explore how response times can be used as a criterion for improving alarm prioritisation and system validation.
  • Simulation and validation: Test alarm system configurations and response behaviour in full-mission simulators to reflect real-life maritime scenarios.
  • Human-centred design: Incorporate input from seafarers and end-users to ensure usability and relevance under operational conditions.
  • Foundation for maritime standards: Contribute to the long-term development of recognised guidelines and technical norms for alarm systems at sea.

 

Expected outcome

The project seeks to generate new insights into current alarm management challenges and propose viable solutions. By adapting proven standards from other industries, the maritime sector can move towards establishing recognised technical norms, enhancing overall safety. The use of simulators will provide a controlled environment to validate these adaptations, focusing on the timeliness and effectiveness of alarm responses.

 

Partners

DFDS, Lloyd’s Register, Blue Stamp, Aarhus School of Marine and Technical Engineering, Fredericia College of Marine and Technical Engineering, IT University of Copenhagen

Open Entrepreneurship

Blue Entrepreneurship with Open Entrepreneurship – bridging research and maritime innovation

The “Blue Entrepreneurship with Open Entrepreneurship” project is a collaborative initiative between ShippingLab and DTU’s Open Entrepreneurship programme, aiming to foster research-based startups within Denmark’s maritime sector. ​The project is supported by the Danish Maritime Fund and seeks to enhance innovation in the maritime industry by leveraging existing research and fostering new startups, thereby strengthening Denmark’s position in sustainable maritime development.

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Objective:

To adapt and apply Open Entrepreneurship’s proven methods – originally developed across Danish universities – to the maritime domain, thereby accelerating the commercialization of research and technological innovations in the shipping industry.​

 

Approach:

Open Entrepreneurship forms interdisciplinary teams comprising researchers, serial entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, and investors (e-corps). These teams are guided by Business Unit Managers who facilitate the maturation of research into viable startups, navigating the complexities of the innovation ecosystem.​

 

Project Phases:
  1. Baseline Establishment: Assessing the current landscape to identify opportunities for maritime-focused entrepreneurial activities.​
  2. Pilot at DTU: Implementing the adapted Open Entrepreneurship model within the maritime context at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU).​
  3. Scaling: Expanding successful strategies and learnings to other institutions and stakeholders within the maritime sector.​

 

Expected Outcomes:
  • Identification of 10 active research-based cases with potential for commercialization.​
  • Onboarding of 30 new maritime-profile mentors to the project’s e-corps.​
  • Hosting a series of workshops to facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration.​

 

You can read more about Open Entrepreneurship here.

Talent Attraction

Attracting Talent to Blue Denmark

ShippingLab is committed to ensuring that Denmark remains a leading maritime nation — not only through innovation and digitalisation, but also by attracting new generations of talent to Blue Denmark.

Our talent-oriented activities are a natural extension of our technical innovation projects. By opening our projects and collaborations to students and young professionals, we create opportunities for hands-on learning and early engagement in real-life maritime challenges.

All activities are carried out in close collaboration with other dedicated industry players — not least Danish Shipping and Danish Maritime — to support and create synergies with their respective education and recruitment initiatives.

From study trips and internships to thesis collaborations and student projects based on real cases from our partners, ShippingLab brings students closer to the maritime sector. One example is our large-scale study trip to the SMM trade fair in Hamburg, organised in partnership with Danish Shipping, Danish Maritime, and Danish Export Association, where 130 students had the opportunity to meet the industry up close.

Whether it’s exploring the future of fuels, improving crew comfort, or working with digital twins, students are invited to contribute to the solutions that will shape tomorrow’s maritime industry.

By supporting talent development and facilitating early engagement with the sector, ShippingLab helps ensure a strong, sustainable, and competitive Blue Denmark.

ShippingLab’s talent attraction initiatives are supported by DS Norden / Orient’s Fond.

If you’d like to learn more about our recruitment efforts or explore potential collaboration, feel free to reach out to Project Coordinator Helene Mølsted.

Strategic partnerships

Collaboration and synergies

To strengthen collaboration, accelerate innovation, and ensure practical impact across the maritime value chain, ShippingLab engages in selected strategic partnerships with key national initiatives. These partnerships contribute to mutual knowledge exchange, joint project opportunities, and broader sector integration.

Read more about our strategic partnerships below.

Maritime Stars

Maritime Stars is a nationwide Danish accelerator program designed to support early-stage maritime startups by connecting them with established industry leaders. Led by Business Hub Northern Denmark (Erhvervshus Nordjylland) and Danish Maritime, and supported by the Danish Maritime Fund, the program aims to strengthen collaboration between startups and established maritime companies, providing access to a network of mentors, experts, and investors to help scale maritime businesses. ​

The program focuses on startups working within areas such as green transition, digitalization, automation, and optimization. Selected startups participate in tailored accelerator courses that include workshops, mentorship, and direct engagement with “lighthouse companies” – leading maritime firms that offer guidance and support. ​

In a strategic partnership, ShippingLab collaborates with Maritime Stars to enhance the support provided to startups. This collaboration allows startups to benefit from ShippingLab’s extensive project activities and industry network, fostering greater synergy between startups and established maritime companies, and facilitating knowledge exchange and innovation within Denmark’s maritime sector. ​

For more information, please visit Maritime Stars here.

AAMS Maritime Synergy Hub

ShippingLab has entered a strategic partnership with the AAMS Maritime Synergy Hub, part of the Aarhus School of Marine and Technical Engineering, to strengthen hands-on research and development in support of the maritime sector’s green transition.

The partnership centres on developing and testing solutions in key focus areas such as sustainable energy, digitalisation, and operational optimisation. Through this collaboration, projects from the Synergy Hub will be anchored within the broader ShippingLab platform, gaining access to a strong network of maritime stakeholders and contributing to cross-sector innovation.

The AAMS Maritime Synergy Hub was established with a generous grant from DS Norden and is designed to bring students, researchers, and companies together around concrete, applied projects that support sustainable development in the maritime sector.

Read more about the AAMS Maritime Synergy Hub here.

New projects and partnerships

ShippingLab is Denmark’s maritime collaboration and innovation platform – open to new ideas and partnerships that can help shape the future of the industry. Whether you have an early-stage idea or are already working on a project, we welcome input and proposals that align with our mission.

Feel free to contact Project Director Magnus Gary for an informal conversation about your ideas and how they might fit into the ShippingLab platform.