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FIBRESHIP · Project

Lightweight Fibre-Reinforced Plastic Ships That Cut Fuel Costs by 30% Weight Savings

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fibreship.eu

Imagine building a massive cargo ship or ferry, but instead of heavy steel, you use advanced fibre-reinforced plastics — the same family of materials used in racing yachts, just scaled way up. The FIBRESHIP team figured out how to make this work for large commercial vessels, proving the materials can handle fire, fatigue, and decades at sea. The payoff is huge: a ship that weighs roughly 30% less burns far less fuel, carries more cargo, and never rusts. They tested this across three vessel types — container ships, ferries, and fishing research vessels — and built actual demonstrators to prove it works.

By the numbers
~30%
Weight reduction in FRP ships vs steel
€2.0Bn
Estimated addressable European shipbuilding market turnover
54,000
Projected new direct jobs (long-term)
€1Bn/year
Potential cost savings for European shipping companies
5%
Estimated mid-term share of total EU shipbuilding market
18
Consortium partners
10
Countries represented
3
Vessel categories developed (container, ferry, fishing research)
The business problem

What needed solving

Steel ships are heavy, expensive to fuel, prone to corrosion, and costly to maintain over their 25-30 year lifespan. Rising fuel prices and tightening environmental regulations on greenhouse gas emissions and underwater noise make this problem worse every year. Shipyards and fleet operators need lighter, more durable construction alternatives that can work at commercial scale — not just for racing yachts or small boats.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered physical demonstrators of large-length FRP ship sections, validated design procedures and production guidelines, adapted software analysis tools for FRP vessel engineering, and inspection methodologies for composite marine structures. A complete business plan covering the full value chain from design to dismantling was also produced, across 15 total deliverables.

Audience

Who needs this

Commercial shipyards looking to differentiate with lighter, fuel-efficient vesselsShipping fleet operators facing rising fuel costs and emissions regulationsMarine composites manufacturers seeking to scale into large vessel productionNaval architects and marine engineering consultanciesPort authorities and ferry operators targeting green fleet renewal
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Shipbuilding
enterprise
Target: Large and mid-size shipyards building commercial vessels

If you are a shipyard competing on cost and delivery time — this project developed validated design procedures, production guidelines, and software tools for building large ships from fibre-reinforced polymers. The demonstrators proved roughly 30% weight reduction is achievable, which directly translates to fuel savings and increased cargo capacity for your customers. With 5% of the European shipbuilding market estimated as addressable, early adopters stand to capture a new €2.0Bn turnover segment.

Commercial Shipping & Logistics
enterprise
Target: Shipping companies operating container fleets or ferry services

If you are a shipping operator struggling with rising fuel costs and tightening emissions regulations — vessels built with FRP technology from this project weigh about 30% less, cutting fuel consumption significantly. European shipping companies could save up to €1Bn per year collectively by adopting this technology. The materials are also corrosion-immune, meaning lower maintenance costs and longer vessel lifespans compared to steel hulls.

Marine Materials & Composites Manufacturing
mid-size
Target: FRP and composite material producers looking to enter the marine sector

If you are a composites manufacturer supplying aerospace or automotive and looking for new markets — this project qualified FRP materials specifically for long-term structural strength and fire resistance in large marine vessels. The project identified and tested materials for three vessel categories, creating a clear pathway into a shipbuilding market estimated at €2.0Bn in Europe. Production methodologies were standardized and demonstrated at scale.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to switch from steel to FRP shipbuilding?

The project developed a full life-cycle cost analysis comparing FRP to traditional steel construction. While upfront material costs may be higher, the business plan covers design through dismantling and shows savings from reduced fuel, no corrosion maintenance, and longer service life. European shipping companies could collectively save up to €1Bn per year with FRP adoption.

Can this actually work at the scale of large commercial ships?

Yes — the project specifically targeted large-length vessels, not small boats. They developed and demonstrated production methodologies for three vessel categories: container ships, ferries, and fishing research vessels. Full-scale demonstrators were engineered and produced as proof of concept.

Who owns the IP and how can I license the technology?

The project was coordinated by Tecnicas y Servicios de Ingeniería (TSI) from Spain, with 18 partners across 10 countries. IP is likely shared across the consortium under Horizon 2020 rules. Licensing or collaboration would need to be negotiated with the coordinator and relevant partners holding specific patents on materials, design tools, or production methods.

Does this meet current maritime safety and fire regulations?

Fire resistance was a core focus of the project. The team specifically qualified FRP materials for fire resistance alongside long-term structural strength. The design procedures and guidelines were developed with regulatory compliance in mind for the three targeted vessel types.

How long before this becomes standard in shipbuilding?

The project ran from 2017 to 2020 and delivered production guidelines, validated software tools, and physical demonstrators. The mid-term market impact was estimated at 5% of European shipbuilding (about €2.0Bn turnover), with a long-term projection of up to 54,000 new direct jobs. Adoption depends on yard investment and regulatory acceptance.

Can existing shipyards integrate this or do they need entirely new facilities?

The project developed standardized production methodologies designed for practical implementation. While FRP construction requires different equipment than steel welding, the guidelines and software tools were created to help traditional yards transition. The consortium included 11 industry partners, suggesting the methods were designed with real production environments in mind.

Consortium

Who built it

The FIBRESHIP consortium is heavily industry-oriented with 11 out of 18 partners (61%) from the private sector, including 7 SMEs — a strong signal that this project was built for commercial application, not just academic research. The 10-country spread across Europe (Spain, France, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Romania, UK, and Cyprus) covers major European maritime nations with active shipbuilding sectors. The coordinator, TSI from Spain, is itself an SME engineering firm, which typically means faster decision-making on licensing and partnerships. With 4 research organizations and 1 university providing the scientific backbone, the consortium balances practical know-how with deep materials science expertise.

How to reach the team

Coordinator is Tecnicas y Servicios de Ingeniería, S.L. (TSI), a Spanish engineering SME. Contact through SciTransfer for a warm introduction.

Order a report on this consortiumSee TECNICAS Y SERVICIOS DE INGENIERÍA, S.L. profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore FRP shipbuilding technology for your fleet or yard? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the FIBRESHIP team and help evaluate fit for your specific vessel requirements.

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