Rapid Fusion has partnered with Compute Maritime, BYD Naval Architects, Siemens Digital Industries Software, and the University of Southampton on the U.K. Government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition. The consortium is developing GenDSOM that will combine simulation, optimization, and validation against manufacturing constraints to embed intelligence into design workflows. The goal is to reduce the design-to-manufacturing cycle while enabling innovative solutions for the maritime sector.
The approach brings together the expertise of the consortium partners: generative AI (Compute Maritime), design (BYD Naval Architects), simulation (Siemens), optimization (University of Southampton) and manufacturing (Rapid Fusion).
The development will be powered by the compute capabilities of HP Z Workstations & Solutions.
A crew transfer vessel (CTV) provided by BYD Naval Architects – will be the test case and focuses on optimizing hull design with hydrofoils produced in large format additive manufacturing using Rapid Fusion’s Apollo robot system.
“Confronted by multifaceted challenges, the maritime industry urgently requires truly evolved, smart design frameworks that balance sustainability with operational and economic viability,” explained Shahroz Khan, CEO of Compute Maritime.
“The transformation of ship design is no longer optional – it is a critical survival strategy in an industry historically anchored in tradition. That’s why this project is so important, and we firmly believe that through the power of NeuralShipper (our generative AI copilot) and the expertise of our consortium partners we can achieve a 10% reduction in design costs, 20% faster design cycles, and a 50% increase in overall design efficiency.”
He went on to add: “GenDSOM responds directly to the UK’s 2025 Maritime Decarbonization Strategy, which targets emissions reductions of 30% by 2030 and 80% by 2040 for domestic maritime. As highlighted in the Call for Evidence, decarbonizing smaller vessels like CTVs is critical to achieving these targets.”
Rapid Fusion is selected for its expertise in large format additive manufacturing (LFAM). The company will use Apollo, a robotic 3D printing system for producing large components and molds. Apollo is Rapid Fusion’s first robotic cell that prints almost 200 times faster than fused deposition modeling systems and supports polymers, including custom composites. The system also offers cost benefits. Plastic pellets used in Apollo can be 65% to 90% cheaper.
Martin Jewell, chief technical officer at Rapid Fusion, commented: “Additive manufacturing has expanded design freedoms and is rapidly gaining traction for both small components and large structures, including hull forms, in the world of maritime.
“Yet scalability remains constrained. GenDSOM is going to adopt a modular strategy, breaking designs into manufacturable subcomponents compatible with both traditional and AM processes.
“Our manufacturing-aware approach ensures designs remains manufacturable while integrating constraints, building envelope limits, support structures, tolerance stacking and material compatibility for instance. All of this will ensure innovative, efficient, and production-ready solutions, while enabling decarbonization across the design-to-manufacturing lifecycle.”
The Innovate-backed project will take place over the next seven months and combine expertise from Siemens Digital Industries, the University of Southampton, and BYD Naval Architects. Compute Maritime will use HP Z Workstations to train AI models locally. This approach gives the company control over energy usage and sourcing.
Shahroz Khan concluded: “We are really pleased to have Rapid Fusion on board for the manufacturing element of the project.”
“It has a proven track record in pushing the boundaries of innovation whilst acknowledging the manufacturing constraints of what is possible – this will be critical in delivering what we believe will be an important breakthrough for the maritime world.”
The GenDSOM is funded by UK government through the UK shipping office for reducing emissions (UK SHORE) program in the Department for Transport. Innovate UK is the main delivery partner for UK SHORE interventions.
Dmitry Ponkratov, marine director at Siemens Digital Industries Software said: “This project represents a new leap within maritime design. Bringing all the digital elements within one loop will unlock a new paradigm of convergence, where design, performance, and manufacturability evolve simultaneously – not sequentially.
“We are excited to partner with the other members, especially Rapid Fusion, to bring manufacturing capability into the preliminary stage of design. This ensures designs are developed with awareness of the constraints that typically only emerge later in the detailed stage.”
Jami Buckley, CEO of BYD Naval Architects commented: “GenDSOM will have a unique ability to generate solutions that would otherwise be difficult, if not impossible, for designers relying solely on domain expertise or incomplete problem definitions. Such scenarios often arise in specialized projects adopting next-generation propulsion technologies or alternative fuels.”
Tashin Tezdogan, professor at the University of Southampton added: “Whilst retrofitting with emission-reduction technologies provides incremental benefits, the largest fuel savings come from optimizing vessel form and components.
“Historically, vessel design progress was constrained by limited tools and evaluation methods. Today, intelligent tools like NeuralShipper can generate highly efficient, unconventional hull shapes, supported by advanced simulations that accurately assess performance. GenDSOM therefore aims to address the core challenge of designing more efficient vessels.”
Source: Rapid Fusion
About Rapid Fusion
Rapid Fusion Ltd, established in 2023 and based in Exeter, UK, develops large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) systems for polymer-based applications. Its product portfolio includes pellet extrusion hardware and robotic 3D printing systems such as Apollo, Medusa, and Zeus, which are designed for high-speed, high-temperature printing. These solutions are used in aerospace, automotive, construction, marine, energy, and design sectors. The company manufactures its equipment in the UK and operates a 5,000-square-foot demonstration facility at Skypark for product trials and customer engagement. Rapid Fusion reported first-year revenue of approximately £1.7 million. The company has received support from Innovate UK and collaborates with industry partners to expand its product capabilities and market reach. Its technology focuses on scalable, efficient production of large polymer parts using pellet-based 3D printing integrated with industrial robotics.
About BYD Naval Architects
BYD-Naval Architects, founded in 2012, is a family-run marine design and engineering firm based in Southampton, England, with a second office in Stoney Creek, Ontario. The company provides naval architecture, marine engineering, structural design, finite-element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, project support, research, and marine surveys. It serves a wide range of clients, including luxury yacht builders, commercial shipyards, vessel owners and operators, and government agencies. Its portfolio includes projects such as electric passenger catamarans and the BTC vessel series. The firm emphasizes sustainability and applies advanced design tools to improve hull performance, systems integration, and construction efficiency. Annual revenue is not publicly disclosed. BYD highlights its “project first” approach and offers contact points at both its Southampton headquarters and its Canadian office. The company’s website provides project details, recent news, and information for clients seeking proposals or technical briefs.
About Siemens Digital Industries Software
Siemens Digital Industries Software, headquartered in Plano, TX, is a business unit of Siemens AG that provides software and services in product lifecycle management, CAD, manufacturing, simulation, and electronic design automation. The company serves industries such as automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, electronics, and semiconductors. Founded in 1963 as United Computing, later known as UGS, it was acquired by Siemens in 2007 and rebranded as Siemens Digital Industries Software in 2019. The business reported revenue of about $6.3B in 2024.
About Compute Maritime
Compute Maritime Ltd, founded in July 2024 and based in Guildford, England, is a technology company focused on advancing maritime sustainability through data-driven solutions. The company offers generative AI and quantum computing tools tailored for the shipbuilding and marine engineering sectors. Its flagship product, NeuralShipper, is the world’s first generative AI platform designed for the simulation, optimization, and design of maritime systems such as hulls, propellers, hydrofoils, and energy-saving devices. Trained on a dataset of over 100,000 vessel designs, NeuralShipper helps naval architects develop innovative, fuel-efficient vessels that support net-zero targets and regulatory compliance. Whether reworking ship structures or adapting designs for alternative fuels, the platform enables faster and more efficient design cycles. Compute Maritime primarily serves the sustainable maritime transport industry, aiming to reduce emissions and improve operational efficiency. One key initiative includes the integration of NeuralShipper with Siemens’ Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to enhance computational fluid dynamics capabilities for marine design analysis.
About University of Southampton
The University of Southampton, a member of the Russell Group, was established as the Hartley Institution in 1862 and granted a royal charter in 1952, it serves more than 20,000 students. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs across five faculties and professional schools, with research centers spanning engineering, medicine, ocean and earth sciences, electronics and computer science, business, arts, and humanities. Its partnerships support industries including maritime, energy, health, technology, and the environment. The university operates multiple campuses, fosters international collaborations, and supports technology transfer, spinouts, and professional education. It also works with government and industry through consultancy.