Project Lead
The Digitally Enabled Efficient Propeller (D.E.E.P) project will be led by Enki Marine Ltd, in collaboration with Stone Marine Propulsion, TWI, DEEP Manufacturing Ltd, Authentise, ASTM International, and Newcastle University. The initiative will receive funding from Innovate UK under the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC6) program, starting in the first quarter of 2025.
Project Description
The D.E.E.P project aims to develop the world’s first generation of marine propellers manufactured additively (via 3D printing) and enhanced with digital twin technology. This technological combination will radically transform the way critical marine components are designed, produced, and operated, shifting from a passive mechanical model to an intelligent cyber-physical system.
Unlike conventional propellers, D.E.E.P propellers will be conceived as smart systems capable of monitoring their performance throughout their operational lifetime. Through the digital twin, continuous real-world performance data will be obtained, enabling predictive maintenance strategies, cost reductions, and improvements in operational and energy efficiency.
The initiative will also assess the technological maturity of different 3D printing processes applicable to the maritime sector, establishing a clear pathway toward the certification and regulatory approval of these components. In doing so, the project will build a solid framework for industrial adoption and regulatory compliance within a highly regulated sector.
In a later phase, a functional prototype will be tested on Newcastle University’s research vessel, with the goal of validating its cost-effectiveness and reliability prior to potential commercial production.
Project Objectives
The main objective of the project is to drive a new generation of intelligent marine propellers, manufactured with advanced 3D printing processes and enhanced with digital twin technology. With this initiative, the United Kingdom aims to transform the maritime industry toward a more predictive, efficient, and sustainable model, based on data-driven decision-making and the use of emerging technologies to optimize propulsion system performance.
Publication Date
07/11/2025
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