Kiel, 27th and 28th January 2026 – CirclesOfLife (COL), Marilight.net, and E-Lass proudly hosted a conference together in Kiel at TKMS, focusing on the application of circular materials, lightweight design, and sustainable shipyard processes. This event brought together Europe’s maritime networks in sustainable and circular shipbuilding, including the German network for innovation in lightweight structures (Marilight.net), the European network for lightweight applications (E-Lass), and the European network for sustainable shipbuilding, including the application of material passports (COL). Over more than 100 participants represented the maritime industry players, research and knowledge institutions, and trade associations.

The first day of the conference primarily focused on sustainable and circular shipbuilding, including the activities at the TKMS yard and the sustainable innovations developed within the project CirclesOfLife. The second day focused on the design of lightweight structures in shipbuilding and the broader application of alternative lightweight materials. The main objective of the conference was to bring together sustainable and circular shipbuilding and the necessary information requirements, as well as to highlight the use of highly promising alternative materials in the maritime industry, such as aluminium and composites. Both elements are essential for taking the next step towards more sustainable and circular shipbuilding.

Day 1 – Sustainable and circular Shipbuilding (TKMS and CirclesOfLife)
The first day was opened by our moderator, Matthias Krause (CMT), who introduced the programme and emphasised the objective of uniting the various networks. The morning featured presentations and detailed discussions from TKMS, where they outlined their portfolio, activities, and technology strategy. TKMS emphasised that lightweight structures will play a key role in constructing the ships of the future.

“TKMS: Lightweight structures will play key role for building ships of the future”

The afternoon was dedicated to the Horizon Europe project CirclesOfLife. First, the overall structure and objectives of the project were shared by the project coordinator, Jorinus Kalis (DAMEN). Following the introduction, insights into the results currently under development were presented. The following key COL innovations were highlighted during presentations given by Theresa Wilson (Flensburg), Stephan Wurst (BALance), and Mark Lansiaux (DAMEN).

1. Shipyard Environmental Performance Index (SEPI): A standardised tool for benchmarking and improving shipyard sustainability, fostering the adoption of cleaner technologies and facilitating access to green finance. The SEPI is necessary input for developing the Ship Lifecycle Passport (SLP), considering that the environmental footprint of the shipbuilding process should be included in the passport. Within COL the objective is to develop a software tool for shipyards to make the calculations and perform the environmental impact analyses.
   
2. Ship Circular Materials Passport (SCMP), and the Ship Lifecycle Passport (SLP): Digital passport solutions enabling full traceability of materials and environmental impacts, supporting compliance with EU legislation and promoting circular strategies from design to dismantling. The SCMP provides insights at the component level, for which maritime suppliers play a crucial role, and the SLP combines the SCMP and the SEPI for the ship as a whole. The outcome of the project will be a specification framework for the passports.

The objective is to implement these sustainable innovations within the Green Marine Europe (GME) certification programme. Cherif Belgaroui (GME) presented the programme, outlining their network across the European maritime industry and their approach to certifying shipyards. GME members participate on a voluntary basis, aiming to enhance their environmental performance beyond mere regulatory compliance. The programme addresses key environmental issues concerning air, water, and soil quality.

As a preview for the following day, proceedings concluded with a presentation by Sebastian Spitzer (University of Dresden) on hybrid lightweight design as a crucial enabler for the transition towards more sustainable maritime structures. Also Constantin Bäns from DLR elaborated on the collaboration with Knierim Tooling about the development of lightweight structures.

Day 2 – Lightweight structures (E-Lass and Marilight.net)
The second day of the conference focused on lightweight structures and their role in sustainable shipbuilding. Franz Evegren from the Research Institute of Sweden (RISE) welcomed EU maritime professionals to the continuation of the conference. The day began with a presentation offering a holistic view of composite sustainability, followed by practical examples from exhibitors. Next, the impact of lightweight structures, as well as fire safety and regulations, was discussed. Additionally, a cross-sectoral perspective from the automotive industry was shared. The day concluded with a presentation on a new project concerning composite propellers in relation to certification.

Holistic view on composite sustainability and industrial examples
Dr. Bastian Brenken (CTC) presented a holistic view on composite sustainability, including the recyclability of the composites. The presentation was followed by industry examples from

• Francois Geuskens (Curve Works) provided a detailed explanation of adaptive moulding technology for application of alternative materials in the maritime sector.
• Arnold Vaandrager (VABO Composites) shared insights into the composite solutions offered by VABO Composites, including doors, hatches, and superstructures.
• Dr Axel Meyer (RIFTEC) discussed the use of aluminium, including friction stir welded panels made from extruded aluminium profiles, as well as the application of lightweight metal structures for marine purposes. In application, aluminium stands out as a mature and reliable material, offering well-established solutions with a decades-proven, qualified recycling loop that enables efficient re-use and significantly supports carbon-footprint reduction, depending on the manufacturing route and recycled content.
• Christina Apel (Leuphana University) shared information about the Recab project, which focuses on the development of a circular ship cabin.
• Zehra Mahmudirovic (Baltec Offshore) presented its applications of lightweight plastic building technology.
• Dr. Anna Schwarz (Compo Spring) shared details about its spring concepts for the maritime sector, including vibration isolation, propulsion systems, and deck hardware.

Impact of lightweight structures and fire safety
Anna Sandinge (RISE) shared insights on the impact of lightweight structures and provided an update on the Swedish Lightweight Network (S-Läss). Jon Steinlein (VSM) reported on fire safety and regulations relating to alternative materials, including the latest discussions at IMO SDC and references to the SOLAS framework. He highlighted SDC’s latest revisions of the related regulatory document, particularly turning an Interim Guideline into a Guideline and widening its scope to load bearing elements that are not contributing to global strength. The approval by IMO MSC is pending.

Cross-sectoral perspective
A cross-sectoral perspective on lightweight structures from the automotive industry was shared by Technische Universität Dresden, where the application of composites and current challenges were highlighted in the automotive industry.

Certification alternative materials
The final presentation was delivered by Bureau Veritas Group, who are working on the application of composite propellers within the project PRINCE. The project includes the design and validation of the composite propellers, followed by manufacturing phase. The ultimate objective is to install the propellers and conduct sea trials.

The day concluded with an industry tour at Knierim Yachtbau GmbH, showcasing advanced wood and composite construction methods (carbon and GRP) for the yachting industry.

Closing remarks
In conclusion, the conference focused on sustainable innovations in shipbuilding, including the introduction of digital passport solutions such as the Ship Circular Materials Passport (SCMP) and Ship Lifecycle Passport (SLP) to enable traceability and compliance with existing and upcoming EU legislation. The event featured presentations on holistic composite sustainability, practical industry examples of alternative materials, fire safety regulations, cross-sectoral insights from the automotive industry, and certification of alternative materials. The conference was concluding with an industry tour showcasing advanced building methods. The conference emphasised the maritime sector’s commitment to climate goals, technological innovation, and sustainable practices.