European partners target faster retrofits and fleet upgrades

The new FIT-HORIZONS project brings together 19 maritime companies, researchers, universities, software developers and technology providers from across Europe to create an intelligent and flexible retrofit design environment for upgrading existing vessels.

Coordinated by SINTEF Ocean and backed by nearly €4 million in European Union funding, the initiative is designed to simplify retrofit planning by combining advanced simulation tools, AI-supported modelling and operational data into a single design framework.

Smarter retrofit decisions

For vessel owners, upgrading an existing vessel can be complex, expensive and operationally disruptive.

Decisions around propulsion systems, hull improvements, onboard technologies and energy systems are often difficult to evaluate in isolation, particularly when vessels are expected to remain in service for decades.

FIT-HORIZONS aims to reduce that complexity by helping operators assess how multiple upgrades perform together under realistic operating conditions.

“Shipping needs practical pathways to modernise the existing fleet quickly and effectively,” said project coordinator Dr Kourosh Koushan, Special Advisor at SINTEF Ocean.

“FIT-HORIZONS will help the industry make better retrofit decisions by understanding how different technologies interact onboard a vessel. Our ambition is to reduce uncertainty and accelerate the transition from analysis to implementation.”

The project will develop and validate a flexible design environment capable of evaluating a broad range of retrofit technologies simultaneously, including propulsion upgrades, electrification systems, wind-assisted propulsion technologies, air lubrication systems, hull modifications and wider energy-efficiency improvements.

Rather than evaluating technologies separately, the platform will assess how combinations of upgrades perform together, helping shipowners identify the most effective retrofit package for individual vessel types and operating profiles.

Six vessel segments

The project will deliver six virtual demonstrations based on real operating vessels across key European shipping sectors, including offshore vessels, inland waterways, short-sea shipping, long-distance shipping, ferries and cruise vessels.

By integrating machine learning, surrogate modelling, operational data and high-fidelity simulations, the consortium hopes to create a practical toolset that supports more reliable, scalable and commercially viable retrofit decisions across the maritime sector.

“Reconstruction of existing ships to include one or more new technologies is complex and commercially difficult to evaluate,” said Øystein Huglen, Head of Technology and Innovation at Maritime CleanTech, which is responsible for industry engagement and market uptake in the project. “The industry needs tools that make it easier to identify the most effective upgrade routes for each vessel.”

Supporting fleet renewal

The FIT-HORIZONS consortium builds on knowledge developed through previous European maritime initiatives while introducing new AI-supported approaches to engineering and retrofit optimisation.

The design environment is expected to reach a technology readiness level of 7-8 by the end of the project in 2029. Alongside the technical platform, the consortium will develop recommendations covering best practices, approval processes and business models to support faster adoption of retrofit solutions.

With many operators seeking to extend vessel life, improve performance and manage evolving operational requirements, the project aims to provide practical tools for fleet renewal without the need for immediate newbuild investment.

The partners include:

• from Norway: Sintef Ocean, Maritime CleanTech, Vard Design, Hurtigruten and Tidewater Rederi
• from Germany: Friendship Systems, Entwicklungszentrum für Schiffstechnik und Transportsysteme, Atlantec Enterprise Solutions and Haeger & Schmidt Logistics
• from Greece: Laskaridis Shipping Company, SimFWD, American Bureau of Shipping and Levante Ferries
• Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (Italy)
• Bound 4 Blue (Spain)
• Alfa Laval Rotterdam (Netherlands)
• Columbia Shipmanagement (Cyprus)
• University of Strathclyde (UK)
• LMG Marin (France).