Dutch open unique marine research facility

Representing the combination of a depressurised towing tank with a wave maker, the DWB creates a claimed world first. It is a research facility for testing ships and offshore structures in the most realistic operational conditions. The basin is fitted with wave generators and the air pressure in the entire basin can be decreased to as low as 2.5% of the atmospheric pressure. This allows many important aspects to be studied using a properly scaled condition for both water and air:

An entire self propelled ship model up to 12m in length can be tested for its cavitation and noise behaviour in still water and waves or even while manoeuvring. The propellers operate at the correctly scaled cavitation number everywhere in the flow and the free surface gives the correct wave pattern.

The inauguration took place in the presence of representatives from various government ministries, the navy, the maritime industry, universities, and from Topsector Water, (a government backed process which brings together experts from industry and research institutes to promote the Netherlands’ vast marine industries knowledge.

The cooperation between government, universities and the business community is at the heart of the DWB, symbolising the so‐called ‘golden triangle’. This is a unique collaboration. The government will contribute to research and knowledge development and MARIN will, in turn, use the new facility to effectively develop this knowledge and then companies can use this knowledge for valuable input into their innovations. The golden triangle results in cooperation able to bring creative, innovative solutions to the industry.

Minister Verhagen officially started up the new wave makers in the basin. He said, “MARIN proves that even the most complex dreams can come true. What is happening here is unique in the world. With the water basin, the waves and the ingenious vacuum technique, MARIN is working with and for companies carrying out top level research.”

The project (representing an investment of €17m) started in February 2010. Called ‘The Cathedral” at MARIN, the DWB contains 35m litres of water and took two weeks to fill.