In 1904, the research unit Naval Architecture was founded and can be considered the forerunner of the current Maritime Technology Division (https://maritiem.ugent.be/) within the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. All teaching responsibilities can be found here.
The main niche of our research https://maritiem.ugent.be/research.php is done together with Flanders Hydraulics Research (https://www.waterbouwkundiglaboratorium.be/en ) with whom we share a Knowledge Centre on Ships Manoeuvring in Shallow and Confined Water (www.ShallowWater.be ). Details about the research facilities (towing tanks, simulators) can also be found on the same, renewed, website. The larger towing tank (175 m x 20 m) and an ocean basin (30 m x 30 m) are currently under constructions and will be commercially operational with free running by the end of 2022 and captive model tests in 2023. An overview of the shallow water towing tank is shown from a perspective of an RC car in the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NweuWToXMQY
The hydrodynamic effects of ships sailing in shallow and restricted water is our main niche for which have achieved worldwide recognition but in recent years we have also been working on projects related to aquaculture (Edulis, Wier&Wind, UNITED) and floating offshore solar panel (MPVAQUA). At the same time, we are developing a numerical tool capable of simulating the behaviors of moored floating structures subjected to waves and current. The following videos are simulations performed using our tool for a moored FOWT and seaweeds nets system, respectively: https://youtu.be/vIUnFEfosok and https://youtu.be/4sD2geIhTlc.