Ocean Network Express and ClassNK Launched Research Project
The partnership aims to evaluate the performance of roll damping tanks on large container ships.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Cruises
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Ocean Network Express and ClassNK launched a joint research project to analyze the effectiveness of roll damping tanks on container vessels. The effort aims to improve cargo safety and transit reliability across the global shipping fleet.
Why it matters
The initiative seeks to quantify how roll damping tanks perform under real-world operating conditions. Establishing a standardized evaluation method will help ensure these systems effectively stabilize ships during transit.
Roll damping tanks reduce a ship's rolling motion by controlling liquid movement within internal tanks. This project utilizes onboard measurement data to validate the performance of these systems against numerical simulation benchmarks.
The players
Ocean Network Express
This is a global container shipping company that provides operational data from its fleet for the research project.
ClassNK
This is a classification society that performs technical analysis and numerical simulations for maritime safety projects.
The details
Ocean Network Express provides operational data from its vessels, while ClassNK conducts numerical simulations and technical analysis. The collaboration focuses on creating a reliable methodology to assess how these tanks behave during maritime operations.
Timeline
October 5, 2026: The joint research project was officially launched.
Roadmap
This project integrates into the maritime industry's broader transition toward data-driven safety standards for large-scale container logistics. It reflects a growing industry effort to replace theoretical models with empirical data to manage the complexities of modern vessel stability.
While this research focuses on container ship stability, its success could lead to more reliable international supply chains and more predictable cargo transit times. Travelers may benefit indirectly as safer, more efficient shipping operations help stabilize the global flow of goods.
The takeaway
Advancements in roll damping technology are essential for maintaining stability as container ships continue to increase in size. This collaboration highlights the industry's shift toward validating hardware performance through rigorous onboard data analysis.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in Cruises and maritime technology.
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