NAVITECTURE is an independent, privately owned ship design company, which transforms the client ambitions into benchmarking solutions. We specialize in developing cutting-edge vessels tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. Our innovative designs not only push the boundaries of maritime engineering but also set new standards in the industry. Many of our creations are the first of their kind, featuring groundbreaking design solutions that prioritize operational effiency, zero-emission compliance, ensuring a sustainable future for maritime operations.
Founded in 2018 by the German Naval Architect Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Damme, our company brings a wealth of experience from high-class German shipyards and design firms. With a strong passion for ship design, we are dedicated to crafting vessels that not only meet but exceed our clients’ expectations.
We believe that world-class ship designs and high-quality engineering solutions can only be achieved in intensive cooperation with the customer. Due to the intimate familiarity of our team with the unique shipbuilding processes and most modern tools, we can offer our customers highly innovative, but economical and practical solutions.
We are experienced specialists for the highly complex ship types, like:
• Polar-/ Research Vessels
• Research Vessels
• Naval and governmental vessels
• Specialized merchant vessels
Vessels Build
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Vessels under Construction
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Vessel Designs
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Research Vessels
88m Fishery Research Vessel | New "Walther Herwig" (vessel under construction)
PROJECT
The new FFS Walther Herwig will be world’s most modern and versatile ship for fisheries and marine research as replacment of the existing “Walther Herwig III”
The 88m long vessel is designed for demanding for worldwide voyages, with main areas of operation North and Baltic Seas as well as the North Atlantic from the subtropics to Greenland.
Building Phase: 2023 – 2027
SCOPE OF WORK
Concept design phase:
Joint concept development with shipyard, NT-Scope: Principal vessel concept from 1st sketches to 2D/3D-General Arrangement, Development of Fishery and Scientific System and Integration, Exterior Design
Building Phase: Development of 3D- laboratory concept (basic design) in live meetings with scientific community, as well as 3D-fishery-/ working deck concept, scientific fish processing plant design and wheelhouse design with end users, GA- optimization, consultancy
CUSTOMER
Customer: Fr. Fassmer GmbH & Co. KG
Enduser: Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE) + Thünen-Institut
105m Research Vessel (under construction)
PROJECT
The naval research vessel
Building Phase: 2022 – 2025
SCOPE OF WORK
Concept design phase:
Joint concept development with shipyards, NT-Scope: Principal vessel concept from 1st sketches to 2D/3D-General Arrangement, Deck layout for various mission modules, 3D-Scientific System integration (Winches, Handling systems and Consultancy)
Building Phase: Marketing material and design consultancy
CUSTOMER
Customer: Fassmer | A&R
Enduser: Indonesian Institute of Hydrography “Bantu Hidro-Oseanografi” (BHO) |Indonesian Navy
125m Research Vessel New “Meteor” | (vessel under construction)
PROJECT
Building Phase: 2022 – 2026
WORK SCOPE
Building Phase: Development of 3D- Laboratory concept (concept and basic design) in live meetings with scientific community, Consultancy
CUSTOMER
Customer: Team Meyer-Fassmer-Spezialschiffbau (MFSB), i.e Meyer Werft GmbH and Shipyard Fr. Fassmer GmbH & Co. KG
Enduser: Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE) + Thünen-Institut
35m Research Vessel AWI “Uthörn” (completion 2023) | Hansa "Ship of the Year" 2022
PROJECT
Building Phase: 2020 – 2023
WORK SCOPE
Concept design phase:
Joint concept development with shipyard, NT-Scope: Principal vessel concept from 1st sketches to 2D/3D-General Arrangement, Fishery and Scientific System integration, as well as integration of various possible energy storage solutions ranging from (CG)-H2, Battery and finally methanol fuel.
Building Phase: Fishery- and Laboratory concept, Consultancy
CUSTOMER
Customer: Fr. Fassmer GmbH & Co. KG
Enduser: Alfred-Wegener-Instituts (AWI), Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar-und Meeresforschung
75m Research Vessel “Atair” (completion 2020) | Hansa "Ship of the Year" 2019
PROJECT
The Atair is the world’s first research vessel in the world to have a green liquid gas-fueled propulsion system, beside being achieving extremly low underwater noise (DNV SILENT-R).
Due to flexible system layout the vessel can operate efficiently for multiple missions.
The 75m long vessel is designed for demanding for worldwide voyages, with main areas of operation North and Baltic Seas as well as the North Atlantic.
SCOPE OF WORK
Concept design phase: Support the shipyard concept design with development of efficient working deck layout and laboratory layout, 3D-scientific system and winches, handling systems integration and consultancy
Building phase: development of 3D- laboratory concept (basic design) in live meetings with scientific community, as well as 3D- working deck, winch and handling system layout, scientific operators’ handbook (WTA), consultancy
CUSTOMER
Customer: Fr. Fassmer GmbH & Co. KG
Enduser: Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH)
Naval / Governmental Vessels
70m Multipurpose Patrol Vessel (under construction)
PROJECT
The 70m multipurpose patrol vessel
Building Phase: 2020 – 2025
WORK SCOPE
Concept design phase: Joint concept development with shipyard, NT-Scope: Principal vessel concept from 1st sketches to 2D/3D-General Arrangement, mission modules definition and integration
Building Phase: Marketing material and design consultancy
CUSTOMER
Customer: Fr. Fassmer GmbH & Co. KG
Enduser: Ecuadorian Navy
90m Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel (under construction)
PROJECT
Naval OPV- Design
Building Phase: 2023 – 2027
WORK SCOPE
Concept design phase: Joint concept development with shipyard, NT-Scope: Principal vessel concept from 1st sketches to 2D/3D-General Arrangement, naval and operational system integration
Building phase: Marketing material and design consultancy
CUSTOMER
Customer: German shipyard
Enduser: confidential
Fishing Vessels
12m Fishing Vessel "EcoKutter"
PROJECT
This project aimed to develop a new vessel platform for economic and sustainable trawl and multipurpose operation in the German costal waters. Special boundary conditions were the lowest environmental footprint concerning energy consumption, air and underwater emissions while lowering operational and build costs as well as increasing catch quality and operational safety. The platform showcases a possible development string for the replacement of the outdated coastal trawler fleet. It was used to convince important stakeholders to start a larger initiative to replace the German costal trawler fleet and therefore secure a future for this economic sector.
Project Phase: 2022- ongoing
WORK SCOPE
Concept design phase: Principal vessel concept from 1st sketches to 2D/3D-General Arrangement, 3D- outfitting system integration for various missions, stakeholder meetings and consultancy
CUSTOMER
Customer: Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE) + Thünen-Institut
Enduser: TBA
Polar Research-/ Supply Vessels
160m Polar Research/ Supply Vessel (Polarstern II Tender phase)
PROJECT
The new polar research vessel “Polarstern II” will be the world’s most modern, capable research platform for many decades, similar to the existing “Polarstern (I)”. Furthermore, the vessel sets new standards in icebreaking capacity and environmental protection due to integration of green methanol for power production and many other measures to reduce the enviromental impact.
Building Phase: 2024 – 2030
WORK SCOPE
Concept design phase: Clean sheet design, incorporating the wealth of experience by the MFSB- team with research vessels and the NT- experience with his special ship type, to reduce drastically the project risk and enhance operational performance. Joint concept development with shipyards, NT-Scope: Principal vessel concept from 1st sketches to 2D/3D-General Arrangement, 3D- Scientific/ outfitting system integration for various scientific and logistic missions, coordination with suppliers and various departments and consultancy of the team for the scientific and polar operational demands as well as marketing materials.
CUSTOMER
Customer: Team Meyer-Fassmer-Spezialschiffbau (MFSB), i.e Meyer Werft GmbH and Fr. Fassmer GmbH & Co. KG
Enduser: Alfred-Wegener-Instituts (AWI), Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar-und Meeresforschung
Concept Design
In this initial stage of the vessel development, the major parameters are defined. Due to the importance of these early phases on the overall project success, we are highly engaged to develop a competitive design for our customers.
The C³-Concept consists of:
• Carefully investigating with the customer of the vessel requirements, constraints and development targets
• Closest cooperation with our customer and to achieve the optimal result
• Conceptual Design from 1st design sketches to the buildable design by creating the general arrangement, hull form, outline specification, datasheet and other important documents depending on the respective project needs.
Depending on the customer’s needs, we develop:
• Highly optimized one off designs, or
• Cost and operational efficient platform families with modular design and definition of suitable mission modules e.g, for portfolio development
EXTENDED CONCEPT DESIGN
In the next phase, the initial design is further refined and optimized to create:
• Shipyard tender package for shipowner or
• Shipyards reply to shipowners tender
During this phase, the following items are typically created:
• Detailed general arrangement
• 3D- Working deck arrangements
• 3D- Space layouts, e.g. laboratories
• 3D- System integration
• Intact and damage stability incl. tank plan
• Fuel consumption and range calculations
• CAPEX/ OPEX investigations
• Specifications and tender documentation
• Structural design
• Hull form optimization
• Customer design review using powerful 3D visualization/virtual reality
• 3D modelling, Virtual reality and rendering visualization
Consulting and High- End Engineering
Performance Prediction and Optimizations
• Reliable, detailed lightship weight, deadweight, payload calculations
• Hull Form optimization using CFD-calculations as well as seakeeping analysis • Reduction of the vessels radar cross-section
Vessel Structure
• Optimal structural design to ease production, high reliability and low weight
• Hull structure scantlings acc. class requirements
Machinery and Electrical Systems
• Design for low-power consumption and high reliability as well as maintainability
• Machinery system selection and arrangement
• Integration of various powering and energy storage systems
Why Navitecture
• Competitive design for the customer
• Develop solutions to optimize ship performance/operation
• Purpose-driven design and consultancy
• Vessel design to budget
• Vessel design for easy and cost-effective construction and operation
• Appealing vessel appearance
• Fast and responsive cooperation with high engagement
• Optimal project processes with close customer involvement
• Highly skilled expertise updated on the latest trends and standards
Who are you
We efficiently support:
• Shipowners
• Shipyards
• Government agencies
• System suppliers
• Other ship design companies
How we work for you
• Loyalty of our many returning customers is the ultimate recognition of our commitment to quality and service
• Their trust in us reflects the high standards we uphold in every project
• Fast and responsive cooperation with high team engagement
• Creative, flexible process from 1st design sketch to 3D general arrangement
• Reliable geometrical basis by using 3D from 1st design phase
• Applying the most modern tools
• Highly sophisticated in-house developed software tools
• In our optimized processes of designing vessels, we combine innovative thinking and well-proven solutions
Testimonials
The collaboration with Thomas Damme and Navitecture was extremely valuable in our 3D laboratory design projects. The specialist expertise and innovative thinking have made a decisive contribution to developing practical and future-oriented solutions for research vessels. The cooperation was particularly distinguished by the close coordination and the deep understanding of scientific requirements.
Thomas is an exceptionally knowledgeable naval architect with excellent knowledge of arctic vessels and creating designs to meet requirements. We worked together on a project (Tender process for "RRS Sir David Attenborough") that was technically challenging and Thomas always impressed with his professionalism and technical knowledge. A pleasure to work with.
We worked with T.Damme/ Navitecture closely for the laboratory design of our new 125m research vessel "Meteor IV". We were impressed as representatives of the scientific users community by the deep knowledge of our daily needs and operations, which results in a pragmatic and efficient design solutions. Due to Navitecture’s innovative VR/ 3D-visualization and design approach, we could further optimize in workshops in real-time the laboratories. We’re therefore recommending the cooperation with T.Damme/ Navitecture.
The Thünen Institute is and has been working with Thomas in various roles during the tendering process and planning of our new research vessel „Walther Herwig“. Thomas is always highly creative, a fast thinker and very skilled when it comes to finding an optimal solution - within the legal and technical limitations we as clients are sometimes not aware of. Developing unconventional ideas and learning from each other makes working with Navitecture/ Thomas very pleasant!
During the conception of the 3D laboratories for the research vessel “METEOR IV” and the earlier cooperation within the framework of the tender for the research vessel “SONNE”, he always demonstrated a high level of technical competence and a strong understanding of the special requirements of research ships. Particularly noteworthy is his ability to translate complex scientific requirements into practical, well-thought-out concepts.
I know Thomas Damme since more than 15 years when we came up with first ideas for a new fisheries research vessel to replace Walther Herwig III, trying to find someone, who is able to turn some loose ideas of a bunch of scientists into a decent ship design. He is one of the most dedicated and customer oriented naval architects I ever met. No matter if it was a large research vessel or a small innovative and climate neutral coastal fisheries vessel, Thomas was able to translate and visualize our scientific ideas for these projects near realtime into 3D models, resulting in extremely efficient design processes.
"3D- special programs (e.g., for the laboratory sector) allow for the real-time collaborative identification of final, optimized arrangements for scientific workplaces. The 3D- model has significantly accelerated the clarification and construction process in the laboratory sector.
Contact NAVITECTURE today to learn more about how we can bring your vision to life!
NAVITECTURE GmbH
Südportal 3, 1.Floor (Office)
Südportal 1 (Postbox)
22848 Norderstedt
Germany
Phone : +49 (0)40 / 35 77 87 10
Mobile : +49 (0)174 / 901 61 57
Email : info@navitecture.com
