Warsash Maritime School

Warsash Maritime School has a strong history of research in the maritime sector. With participation in many UK- and EU-led research projects, as well as some at international level, the School has established itself as one of the leading centres in the UK in the field of maritime research.

Research strategic lead

Jaikar Sohal is the research strategic lead for Warsash Maritime School; his role is to coordinate with and support colleagues who engage in research. As the School research lead, Jaikar takes responsibility for the alignment of the School research plan with the University Research and Knowledge Exchange Enabling Strategy, and communicates between the School and Research Office, as well as taking responsibility for the strategic oversight of research in the School.

Warsash Maritime School participates and contributes to research themes and knowledge exchange priorities as per the Solent University 2025 Strategy in the following areas:

Research themes
- Environment and Engineering: transport, safe and sustainable energy
Knowledge exchange priorities
- Maritime: autonomous shipping, alternative energy, seafarers' employment, mental health and welfare, and training maritime trainers.

Ongoing research and projects

IGNITE

The IGNITE project is developing a scaled demonstration and training facility for remotely operated Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). Solent University is the only institution worldwide with both advanced manned model and simulation capability. Working with leading experts, Wärtsilä the IGNITE project will innovatively link the manned model and simulation centres. The project will enable complex simulation and training in real traffic interactions and high-risk manoeuvres in a safe and controlled environment.

Implementation of Ship Hybridisation

Solent University is part of a research and innovation collaboration that has been awarded almost €16 million to look at the options for green technology in the maritime industry. With 43 observer partners, the project covers the UK, Belgium, Netherlands and France. Starting in February 2019 the project will run until 2022, and aims to test and validate a number of technical tools and business models for the implementation of hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell technologies in ships and ports.

The forgotten keyworkers: challenges faced by British seafarers as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic

This project aims to explore the challenges faced by British seafarers as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic.The project is run by Solent University in collaboration with Nautilus International and the Merchant Navy Welfare Board.

Ports Energy and Carbon Savings (PECS) Project

PECS aims to develop, test and implement different tools and technologies in order to reduce the carbon footprint of the small- and medium-sized entrepreneurial (SME) ports and marinas, and to make their functioning more energy-efficient in a cost-effective way.

An Analysis of the Resilience of Merchant Seafarers after a Traumatic Incident at Sea

Past projects

Seafarers' Personal Protective Equipment Project

The Seafarers’ Personal Protective Equipment project is run by Solent University in collaboration with CHIRP Maritime. The project explores seafarers’ experiences of using personal protective equipment (PPE) on-board ships.

STM

Project Sea Traffic Management (STM) connects and updates the maritime world in real time with efficient knowledge exchange. Through data exchange among selected parties, such as ships, service providers and shipping companies, STM is creating a new paradigm for maritime information sharing, offering tomorrow's digital infrastructure for shipping.

MAXCMAS (MAchine eXecutable Collision regulations for Marine Autonomous Systems)

Compliance with current and future regulations is instrumental to the wide-scale exploitation of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) at sea. Satisfactory autonomous operation in accordance with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (Colregs) is furthermore pivotal to maritime safety. Machine execution of the Colregs has been investigated in limited circumstances and this project aims to develop a more comprehensive capability and demonstrate satisfactory execution in real-world representative sea trials.

GEM Project

The Gender, Empowerment and Multicultural Crews (GEM) project explored seafarers’ welfare, focussing on gender issues arising from multi-cultural crews and isolation. The research and data findings will facilitate the development of appropriate tools to help support women within the industry.

Effective Crew Project

The Effective Crew Project, examined the benefits and challenges associated with the implementation of either a stable or a fluid crewing strategy on board merchant vessels.

Mentoring Seafarers Project

Mentoring is seen as a 'vehicle' to allow knowledge and experience to be shared in a trusted relationship. It has a two-way function supporting personal growth in both career advancement and welfare in equal measures.