In 2016 the PhD students of our faculty Thodoris Kourbelis and Demosthenes Spathis along with two undergraduates Socrates Tzanetos and Konstantina Fountouli founded the Oceanos NTUA student research team, with the goal of participating in the international student contest Hydrocontest.

Back in 2016, our team participated in two categories : the lightweight category and the long distance race. In order to get there, we examined a hull from the Laboratory for Ship & Marine Hydrodynamics and modified it to suit the needs of the competition. We used electricity as a fuel, and therefore an appropriate electronic system developed to test and control the electric motor, the remote control system and the telemetry system. For the particular electric motor we were given, the manufacturer proposed a specific propeller from the trade which was used in our first year.

After the satisfactory performance of the team in its first participation despite the lack of both experience and time, we opted to continue this beautiful journey. In particular, we decided to take part in the lightweight and heavyweight categories and to construct two vessels from scratch, one for each category. Simultaneously, the hydrodynamic optimization of the vessel used in 2016 began, with the aim of optimizing the hull performance and understanding the operation of the slides.

In 2018, Oceanos team opted to optimize the existing boats rather than building new ones, aiming to attain maximum efficiency. The team chose to rectify all problems from last year and add fresh ideas to its designs, in order to get greatest boat’s performance.

Thus, we focused on the study of the hydrodynamic efficiency of the models and on the construction of propellers for each vessel as well. For this purpose, it was vital to carry out towing tank experiments.

For 2019 our team decided to participate in the Monaco Solar & Energy Boat Challenge 2019. Our top priority was to find and construct the best design for the cockpit, alongside with the use of renewable energy sources,such as solar cells. We then, developed an energy management system, supporting the aim of green shipping using solar panels. In addition, we developed optimised propellers and constructed our cockpit using carbon fiber.

Our team, in 2020, aimed to take part for the 2nd consecutive year in the Monaco Solar & Energy Boat Challenge, in the Energy class. Our goal was to optimize the existing boat, rather than building a new one, aiming to attain maximum efficiency. The team chose to rectify all problems from last year and add fresh ideas to its designs, in order to get the best boat’s performance. While studies to improve the axial and electronic systems had begun, the contest was canceled due to COVID-19.

Our team, despite the difficulties caused by COVID-19, achieved again to stand out in the Monaco Solar and Energy Boat Challenge. This year, we managed not only to have, for the second year, one of the lightest boats in the competition, but also to design and build our own, new and efficient propulsion system. Unfortunately, during the testing races, there was a motor malfunction, which, in spite of our best efforts, did not have enough time to fix, due to the demand for the full replacement of the motor.

For the third consecutive year, we participated in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, and our efforts truly paid off this time. For 2022, a new battery pack was used, a more efficient dual propeller pod system was implemented and all that allowed for a more powerful motor to be used on our drivetrain. The outcome?  Achieving some of our team’s best results.