Digital Transformation Seminar for the Maritime Industry by Türk Loydu Foundation
The seminar titled "Innovative Approaches in the Maritime Sector: Digital Transformation through Simulation," organized in collaboration with the Türk Loydu Foundation, IOG Engineering, and Siemens Digital Industries, was held on June 20, 2025, at the Türk Loydu Foundation Headquarters. The event brought together prominent industry representatives and academics, where simulation technologies driving digitalization in the maritime sector, computational engineering solutions, and practical applications were discussed.
In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Oral Erdoğan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Türk Loydu Foundation, stated: “As the Chairman of the Board of Türk Loydu, I warmly greet you all on behalf of our Foundation. Today, we are gathered here at an important conference focusing on digital transformation, simulation, and advanced technologies — all of which are shaping the future of the maritime sector and enhancing our sustainability and competitiveness.
Digital transformation in ship design and maritime activities is no longer just an innovation; it has become a prerequisite for staying competitive. Traditional methods in ship design and construction are being replaced by innovative solutions involving 3D modeling and simulation technologies. Moreover, the use of composite materials is revolutionizing design by increasing structural strength while offering advantages such as lightness and durability. Advanced simulations in propeller design are improving fuel efficiency, reducing emissions, and optimizing performance.
With the rise of electric ship technologies, battery systems have become critical components in ship design. Simulation and digital testing infrastructures are now indispensable for the safe and efficient use of these new energy sources.
As Türk Loydu, a strong and national classification society of our country and a distinguished IACS member, we are focused on digital class systems and AI-supported analyses. As classification societies, we are responsible for ensuring that this technological transformation progresses within the framework of safety and sustainability. Digital transformation is not only changing technological infrastructure but also reshaping our human capital and industry practices. Equipping our young engineers with skills in 3D design, structural analysis, and simulation techniques is our most valuable asset for the future.
Today’s presentations and knowledge sharing will significantly contribute to the digitalization journey of our maritime sector, strengthen our collaborations, and further expand our vision.
Thank you for your participation. I wish you a productive and inspiring conference.”
Fatma Erol from IOG Engineering delivered her opening speech by saying: “The importance of simulation and digital transformation in the maritime sector is rapidly increasing. In this event hosted by the Türk Loydu Foundation, we are discussing the solutions offered by advanced simulation technologies in areas such as ship design, energy efficiency, and hydrodynamic optimization.
As IOG Engineering, the Siemens Simcenter software we represent offers a wide range of technical solutions — from hull and propeller analyses to battery and energy systems, and from CFD-based maneuvering and resistance analyses to optimization. Our team provides technical consultancy and hands-on support in this field. If you are interested in trying out our software and using it in your projects, feel free to get in touch. We hope this event will serve as a beneficial, inspiring, and collaborative platform for all of us.”
Speaking on behalf of Siemens Digital Industries, Koray Özköse began his speech by emphasizing the importance and role of Türk Loydu in the maritime sector. He stated, “Simulation technologies have been gaining increasing importance in recent years, particularly in Türkiye’s defense industry. In high-precision sectors such as maritime, the role of simulation is also growing day by day. We are closely following these developments and would like to express our readiness to contribute to this transformation process at every scale,” as he provided insights into the solutions Siemens offers to the sector.
In the first technical session of the seminar, Dr. Rodrigo Perez Fernandez and Abdul Ludhi from Siemens presented “Accelerate Naval Design Innovation with Simcenter,” where they demonstrated the speed and flexibility brought by digital twin technologies to the design process through practical examples.
Alican Koyuncuoğlu, M.Sc. from Istanbul Technical University, shared a research study analyzing ship resistance and seakeeping performance under wave effects using computational methods.
Dr. Akile Neşe Halilbeşe from Newcastle University gave a presentation on the hydrodynamic and structural performance of thermoplastic composite ship propellers produced using additive manufacturing, providing valuable insights to participants.
Kemal Tilkicik from IOG Engineering offered a comprehensive technical perspective on the numerical modeling of ship motions in his presentation titled “Maneuvering in Stokes Waves.” From the same institution, Onur Gündüztepe presented “Simcenter Battery Simulation Solutions for Maritime Applications,” focusing on simulation studies for ensuring the safety and efficiency of battery systems in electric marine vehicles.
In the second session, which started after the lunch break, Ömer Korkmaz from IOG Engineering detailed an integrated simulation approach ranging from 1D system modeling to 3D CFD analyses.
Ahmet Gültekin Avcı from Yıldız Technical University presented a CFD optimization process aimed at enhancing hydrodynamic performance in high-speed vessels. In his second presentation of the day, Kemal Tilkicik discussed computational methods for hull form optimization.
The closing presentation of the seminar was delivered by Murat Kaplanoğlu from Türk Loydu UDH A.Ş., titled “Digital Transformation in Türk Loydu’s Plan Approval Processes.” He shared insights into the use of digital tools in plan approval workflows and Türk Loydu’s strategic vision in this area.
Focusing on the integration of digitalization into engineering processes in the maritime sector, the seminar provided participants with an opportunity for interdisciplinary knowledge exchange.
Türk Loydu continues to strengthen its collaboration with both the business world and the academic community.
