There aren’t currently any applications or software available for calculating the necessary ice strengthening for icebreakers or ice-going vessels. There are only classification rules describing the requirements. If the designers don’t have any tools, verifying of the hull requirements is very time-consuming.

SDS Aura has taken a step forward to meet the requirements of Classification Societies and to verify the safety and reliability of sea-going ships. We support the great work that young students do, and are privileged to announce that we can now offer our customers a tool to fulfil the requirements of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping Rules for Icebreakers.

Samuli Salmela, Bachelor of Engineering (Mech.) student, specialising in Marine Technology, started in beginning of March 2015 to study the classification RS-rules for icebreakers for his B.Sc thesis. The study was conducted for the needs of SDS Aura.

As the result of the study this young, precise and thorough student was able to develop a calculation application for SDS Aura. With the application we are able to speed up our classification calculations, improve reliability of the calculations and create a framework for an effective and solid comparison between RMRS and DNV Rules.

The project was challenging but I found it interesting and educative, Salmela says. The best part of the application is that not only can we apply it for the project under process, but we’re also able to utilise it in similar future projects, he sums up.

SDS Aura´s design manager (hull design), Marko Ikkala points out that the application brings added value for the customer, as we’re able to make the comparison between different classification rules and thus indicate the differences in the ship structures and weight. SDS Aura already uses similar applications for DNV classification rules. This offers cost-effective solutions and shorter delivery times for the customers.

This thesis is a good example of what we are looking for when commissioning various thesis works. During the process, the students get familiar with the work they are going to execute and as a result they produce an actual application or a tool which will be used widely among the designers, says the managing director, Janne Auvinen.

Also another thesis for SDS Aura is currently in process. The outcome of this M.Sc thesis enables us to realistically model the sea conditions and waves with smoothed-particle hydrodynamics analysis.