MEYER WERFT Coordinates European Research Project

Papenburg, 27 March 2014 –Yesterday the closing workshop of the European research project "ThroughLife" was conducted at Forum Alte Werft. The project was started in April 2011. In this workshop various research results from the last 36 months were presented and discussed with experts from business, science and politics.

MEYER WERFT's managing director Dr. Jan Meyer and the EU's project supervisor Mr. Gabriel Mialocq delivered an address to the audience of more than 100. In the following the guests had the opportunity to have a closer look at the prototypes that had been built. For instance, the stability of a 100-sqm canopy made of synthetic material could be inspected during a tour of MEYER WERFT's premises.

"ThroughLife" is a project funded by the EU which has the goal of reducing the cost of ships' life cycles. The focus is on improving energy efficiency, reducing fuel costs and emissions from ships. What was investigated in detail was weight reduction by replacing steel with new materials, so-called "self-healing" paint as well as the development of a condition monitoring system for precise planning of maintenance and repair measures.

The fourth part of this project dealt with devising new business models so as to be able to offer these new, innovative concepts in the maritime sector at economically successful conditions.