International Shipbuilding Progress

Decarbonization of the maritime industry requires fostering habits and conditions that enable operators to make energy-conscious decisions. User interface (UI) design can play a key role in developing strategies to enhance user awareness and motivation. Specifically, UI design can implement feedback mechanisms that help users better understand the consequences of their actions on energy consumption. This approach has demonstrated measurable reductions in energy use in domains such as automotive systems and home appliances. However, research on eco-feedback and its implementation through UI design remains limited in the maritime context. We aimed to address this gap by conducting a systematic review of eco-feedback research and developing an eco-feedback framework (EFF) for UI design. We identified 39 strategies for providing feedback on a UI. These strategies were organized and synthesized into a design framework, the EFF. We illustrate the proof of concept of the EFF with a maritime example: a cruise control system that regulates a ship's speed and power use. Finally, we discuss other potential applications of the EFF in UI design research and conclude by highlighting its importance in fostering habits and conditions for energy-conscious decision-making in the maritime industry.

An increase in customer demand for cruising is prompting major industry players to allocate considerable resources to the construction of new ships that are energy efficient and environmentally compliant. This study examines the energy transition possibilities by retrofitting a large cruise ship and develops a procedure to evaluate the suitability of liquid hydrogen as a potential decarbonization solution. The utilized approach in this paper includes technical and safety assessment of the possible energy system options with liquid hydrogen as fuel, to identify the optimal solution. The technical assessment evaluates the required volume and weight of each system option using vessel particulars and operational data. The energy system sizing is based on available technology data in the market, and the sizing of fuel storage system is based on a sample liquid hydrogen containment system and its adaptability onboard. Additionally, a safety assessment of hydrogen storage and each energy system option is conducted, analysing the applicability onboard, with a focus on the frequency of hazardous events. This approach can be transferred to other ship types and further developed to compare other alternative fuels. Furthermore, it can be improved by incorporating economic and regulatory assessments. The results of a sample case study with installed 40 MW power onboard, indicate that decarbonization of cruise ships using liquid hydrogen is possible. Among studied scenarios, a system with 40 MW PEMFCs and 10 MW batteries is suggested as an optimum solution. This system, despite requiring 1.87 more volume, represents only 35% of conventional system weight. Within the ship body three large liquid hydrogen tanks are installed to provide 4926 m³ fuel. Consequently, bunkering stops are required on a weekly basis.

Clear, reliable and communicative icons, central to navigation in ship–bridges, rely on the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 62288 guidelines. This contrasts with uses of technical, industry icon guidance standards and prototypical icon alternatives in Interaction Design. This article explores how guidance on standardised navigation icons for common function controls in IEC 62288 may limit icon development. Following review of related research and analysis of existing professional icon guidelines, conceptual icon design prototypes from Interaction Design are presented to offer prospective and communicatively centred contributions to icon standards. The study is located within qualitative, situated inquiry and Research through Design methodologies in Human–Computer Interaction encompassing conceptual design prototyping and visual design methods. Comparative analysis is made of established icon standard forms and proposed alternatives from the maritime interaction design OpenBridge project. Key findings include identifying that current guidance frameworks for navigational icons contain semantic gaps for interaction designing and operational usage; applicability of a proposed framework enhancing communicativity in icon design and standardisation; and qualitative contribution of a prototype Icon Library to navigation icon designing. Implications for navigation icon design and standardisation processes via conceptual prototype design are discussed as in need of further user study and uptake in the sector.