Complex and Special Purpose Vessel Design
Elomatic Marine designs complex and specialpurpose vessels including icebreakers, cruise ships, and research vessels. Engineering partner for demanding shipyard programs worldwide.
Some vessel programs demand more than standard engineering experience. Icebreakers, polar research ships, large cruise vessels, and other specialpurpose builds involve technical, regulatory, and operational requirements that require a dedicated team with the right background.
Elomatic Marine has delivered some of the most technically demanding vessel programs in recent years. We work as a full design partner or as a specialist team within a larger program, adapting to the structure that works best for the shipyard and owner.
Key Takeaways
- Elomatic Marine has extensive experience designing icebreakers, cruise ships, and specialpurpose vessels.
- We serve as a full design partner or as specialist support within larger shipyard programs.
- Our North America team in Vancouver and Newark serves shipyards and owners across the region.
- Recent programs include the Polar Icebreaker for the Canadian Coast Guard and the new Polarstern research icebreaker.
- We cover all engineering disciplines in-house, from naval architecture, structural, and deck outfitting design to electrical, HVAC, and interior outfitting.
Icebreakers
Icebreaker design is one of the most technically demanding areas in shipbuilding. Hull form, structural strength, propulsion systems, and operational requirements in ice all interact in ways that require deep specialist knowledge and experience across disciplines.
Elomatic Marine has been involved in icebreaker design for decades. We have worked on both commercial and government programs, covering concept design through to full basic and detail design packages. Our teams understand ice class rules and have direct experience with polar operations requirements.
Polar Icebreaker for the Canadian Coast Guard
Elomatic provided engineering services for the construction of a Polar Class 2 heavy polar icebreaker for the Canadian Coast Guard, in partnership with Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyard. The vessel is designed to enable year-round operations in the Canadian Arctic. Our scope covered structures engineering, system engineering across mechanical, outfitting, interior, and power and propulsion systems, SRE and 3D modeling using the Cadmatic suite, and naval architecture including general arrangement, escape plans, and noise and vibration analysis.
Our North America team
Elomatic’s North America team was established in Vancouver to support this program. It has since grown into a full-service office with a second location in Newark, USA, serving shipyards, shipowners, and government clients across the region.
The new Polarstern
The new Polarstern is a multifunctional icebreaking polar research and resupply vessel being built at TKMS in Wismar, Germany. Elomatic is responsible for the full engineering process, acting as the dedicated design department for the shipyard. The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2030 and represents the latest developments in modern icebreaker design.
Cruise and ferry vessels
Deck outfitting is delivered by the same team as hull and structural design, since the two disciplines share classification requirements and 3D modeling tools. It covers the equipment and systems fitted to the weather deck and superstructure, from mooring gear to life-saving equipment.
Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International
Elomatic provided detailed engineering support to Meyer Turku for the Icon of the Seas, at 250,800 GT. Our scope included full outfitting design of a 100-meter-long Floating Engine Room Unit (FERU), including LNG tanks and bunker areas, electrical and automation detail design covering engine room and safety systems, and HVAC and interior design for the main theatre.
Frequently asked questions
Icebreakers require specialist knowledge in hull form optimization for ice operations, structural design for ice loads, propulsion system selection, and compliance with polar class rules. The interaction between these requirements is complex and demands experience across multiple disciplines working closely together.
Yes. On the new Polarstern program, Elomatic acts as the dedicated design department for TKMS. We can also work as a specialist partner within a larger design program, depending on what the shipyard needs.
We work on both newbuild programs and conversion or retrofit projects for complex and special purpose vessels. For major conversions, our ship design and lifecycle services teams work together depending on the scope.
Our Vancouver and Newark offices provide local project management and client support, backed by the full engineering capacity of our European teams. We are experienced in working across time zones and have delivered major programs for both Canadian and US shipyards.
Tell us about your vessel program
Whether you are planning a complex newbuild or need specialist engineering support for a demanding program, our team is ready to discuss your requirements.
