Photo: Al Seer Marine/Instagram
The maritime industry is striving to develop and implement green solutions for zero emissions and long-term sustainability. One of the latest accomplishments and one of the most promising solutions is using 3D printing for boats. The one that is now officially the largest of its kind in the world was unveiled in Abu Dhabi.
This year's Abu Dhabi International Boat Show revealed an unexpected boat model. It's not the most luxurious or the most powerful. Instead, it's officially the world's largest 3D-printed boat, recognized by the Guinness World Records. It was on display at Berth 006, where visitors at the Abu Dhabi Boat Show got the chance to admire this pioneering product up close.
For now, this record-breaking vessel is still quite mysterious. It claims also to be the first 3D-printed water taxi in the world, although it's not clear whether it's operational. According to Al Seer Marine, the one that made the boat in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Maritime (an international maritime logistics provider), this trailblazing watercraft was made from 67% recycled materials.
At a little over 39 feet (11.98 meters), this is now officially the largest 3D-printed boat in the world. It snatched the title from 3Dirigo. Until now, this 25-foot (7.6 meters), 5,000 lb (2,267 kg) watercraft made by the University of Maine's Advanced Structures and Composites Center was the largest boat produced exclusively through 3D printing.
In 2019, when 3Dirigo was unveiled, the University of Maine secured not one but three Guinness World Records. In addition to the largest 3D-printed boat, it also got certificates for the largest solid 3D-printed item and the largest polymer 3D printer.
That particular printer was manufactured by Ingersoll Machine Tools and was capable of printing objects of up to 100 feet (30.4 meters) in length, 20 feet (6 meters) wide, and 10 feet (3 meters) tall.
As impressive as the 3Dirigo was, its developers made it clear that 3D printing technology wasn't mature enough to obtain production-ready vessels. At the time, the technology's main potential for the maritime industry was linked to the efficient manufacturing of molds for hulls and other parts.
The 3Dirigo was based on a Navatek design, and it took just slightly over 70 hours to print.
Today, the new world record holder in UAE claims to also be the first water taxi made using this technology, which could pave the way for sustainable commercial operations. The main benefits of 3D-printed vessels are that they save a lot of time and money by skipping conventional manufacturing and that they can be fully recycled when no longer in use instead of ending up in a landfill.
According to Al Seer Marine, this outstanding achievement is also meant to encourage the industry to integrate new, sustainable technologies.
For now, this record-breaking vessel is still quite mysterious. It claims also to be the first 3D-printed water taxi in the world, although it's not clear whether it's operational. According to Al Seer Marine, the one that made the boat in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Maritime (an international maritime logistics provider), this trailblazing watercraft was made from 67% recycled materials.
At a little over 39 feet (11.98 meters), this is now officially the largest 3D-printed boat in the world. It snatched the title from 3Dirigo. Until now, this 25-foot (7.6 meters), 5,000 lb (2,267 kg) watercraft made by the University of Maine's Advanced Structures and Composites Center was the largest boat produced exclusively through 3D printing.
In 2019, when 3Dirigo was unveiled, the University of Maine secured not one but three Guinness World Records. In addition to the largest 3D-printed boat, it also got certificates for the largest solid 3D-printed item and the largest polymer 3D printer.
That particular printer was manufactured by Ingersoll Machine Tools and was capable of printing objects of up to 100 feet (30.4 meters) in length, 20 feet (6 meters) wide, and 10 feet (3 meters) tall.
As impressive as the 3Dirigo was, its developers made it clear that 3D printing technology wasn't mature enough to obtain production-ready vessels. At the time, the technology's main potential for the maritime industry was linked to the efficient manufacturing of molds for hulls and other parts.
The 3Dirigo was based on a Navatek design, and it took just slightly over 70 hours to print.
Today, the new world record holder in UAE claims to also be the first water taxi made using this technology, which could pave the way for sustainable commercial operations. The main benefits of 3D-printed vessels are that they save a lot of time and money by skipping conventional manufacturing and that they can be fully recycled when no longer in use instead of ending up in a landfill.
According to Al Seer Marine, this outstanding achievement is also meant to encourage the industry to integrate new, sustainable technologies.
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