Composite Materials in Shipping and Shipbuilding: Advantages, Technologies, and Prospects

Composite materials in shipbuilding represent a significant advance in energy efficiency, resulting in lower operational costs, and improved environmental benefits. Compared to traditional materials like steel and aluminum, composites provide advantages such as being lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and having high strength, making them ideal for constructing durable yet lightweight ship hulls. This study highlights the key benefits of composites, including a 20–30% reduction in vessel weight and fuel consumption, which in turn decreases CO₂ emissions and operating costs. Research utilizing advanced manufacturing techniques, particularly vacuum infusion, produces high-performance composite structures with minimized resin usage. Ongoing investigations into composite materials also explore biodegradable resins, production automation, hybrid designs, and the broader application of composites in larger vessels. Adopting these innovations is expected to drive shipbuilding toward a more sustainable and economically viable industry, in line with global environmental standards.