Theory results in fanatic race during the Maritime Engineering Design Day
Around 55 first-year students in the Maritime Engineering bachelor programme introduced their parents and other interested parties to the department and its programme during Design Day. After an opening session where the parents accompanied by students were briefed on the theory, they were soon able to roll up their sleeves and get to work. They even had the opportunity to build their own floating structure!
From theory…
While some of the participants took turns to meet the faculty on a tour, other groups started building using coffee cups and satay sticks. The aim was to construct an intelligent floating structure that could carry as much weight as possible. This was tested in the swimming pool, where more and more weights were piled up.
The task was carried out with great enthusiasm. And hadn't they learned at lecture that the best way to test a structure’s strength is to put air underneath it? Perhaps latex gloves would be perfect for storing air! The participants fought fiercely for eternal glory.
![[Translate to English:] foto van drijvende constructie met koffiebekers en satéprikkers](https://filelist.tudelft.nl/_processed_/d/4/csm_drijvende%20constructie%20maritieme%20techniek_94593a434c.webp)
![[Translate to English:] foto van drijvende constructie met koffiebekers en satéprikkers](https://filelist.tudelft.nl/News/2024/June/ME/drijvende%20constructie%20maritieme%20techniek.jpg)
![[Translate to English:] Foto van de drijvende constructie in het zwembad](https://filelist.tudelft.nl/_processed_/5/f/csm_drijvende%20constructie%20met%20gewicht_1fad3dbb24.webp)
![[Translate to English:] Foto van de drijvende constructie in het zwembad](https://filelist.tudelft.nl/News/2024/June/ME/drijvende%20constructie%20met%20gewicht.jpg)
![[Translate to English:] Foto van de test met de drijvende constructie](https://filelist.tudelft.nl/_processed_/9/0/csm_ontwerpdag%20maritiem%20challenge_3e3493b162.webp)
![[Translate to English:] Foto van de test met de drijvende constructie](https://filelist.tudelft.nl/News/2024/June/ME/ontwerpdag%20maritiem%20challenge.jpg)
…to practice!
At the beginning of the academic year, students work in groups to build their first boat as part of the Integration and Skills course project. These boats are showcased again during the Design Day to be tested in competition. The first round was a strength test. Weights were used to see which boat reached the other side the fastest. The second round was a load test, where as much weight as possible had to be placed on the deck without sinking or capsizing the boat. The students and parents crowded around the pool to make sure they didn’t miss a thing. The contest was both competitive and social! It demonstrated that the students had learnt a great deal about design, geometry, stability, ship resistance, ship strength, programming and design integration in the first year. Many would have liked to use the knowledge we have today to make a few more adjustments and make even better boats!
Given what I know now, I would design the boat very differently. It’s incredible how much you learn here in the first year. I didn’t really know anything about boats, and now I suddenly know a lot. You make incredible strides in knowledge.
Nathalie Janssen , first year student Maritime Engineering
I’m most proud of the stability of our boat. And we have a very original transom, which is at the stern. The Maritime Engineering programme took some getting used to in the first six months. But then you start finding your way and meeting people. And in the end, it becomes natural to get to know lots of people!
Duncan Tak, first year student Maritime Engineering