This review explores the recent advancements in welding techniques for aluminum plates utilized in ships and offshore structures, with a particular focus on minimizing weld-induced deformation and residual stress to improve structural performance. Given the critical role of welding in the construction and repair of marine structures, understanding the influence of these factors is paramount. This article synthesizes current research findings, evaluates the effectiveness of various welding methods, and highlights innovative approaches to reduce adverse effects. Through a comprehensive analysis of experimental and simulation studies, this review identifies key strategies for optimizing welding processes, thereby contributing to the durability and integrity of marine structures. This synthesis not only highlights successful strategies for optimizing welding processes but also offers guidance for researchers and practitioners in the field. This review also identifies previously unaddressed gaps in the literature, particularly focusing on the underexplored interactions between specific welding parameters and the long-term durability of marine structures, offering new perspectives and directions for future research. It delineates critical challenges faced in the welding of aluminum alloys for marine applications and offers targeted suggestions to address these issues, thereby paving the way for advancements in welding practices and technology. The findings aim to guide researchers and industry practitioners in selecting and developing welding techniques that ensure the safety, reliability, and longevity of marine infrastructure.

Synthetic ropes are increasingly favored for use in offshore systems. Accurate predictions of the coupled hydrodynamic performance and structural response of offshore structures depends on a thorough understanding of the nonlinear characteristics of fiber materials. The objective of this study is to experimentally characterize the stiffness of a polyester mooring rope for a cylindrical floating production storage and offloading system. The quasi-static stiffness of the ropes and aged ropes after installation and the dynamic stiffness in various loading conditions were computed based on sub-rope tests following the guidelines from the American Bureau of Shipping. The quasi-static stiffness curves exhibited a linear decrease in values as the logarithm of the loading period (in minutes) increased. The dynamic stiffness was, in general, much higher than the quasi-static stiffness. The dynamic stiffness under various loading conditions revealed the complexities of the mechanical properties of polyester rope. Parameters such as the mean load, load amplitude, loading period, and loading cycles all had a notable impact. More tests are required to have a better understanding of their effects.

As marine development extends into deep and far-offshore waters, fixed breakwaters become increasingly costly and difficult to construct and may have greater environmental impacts. Floating breakwaters (FBs) offer flexible deployment across a wide range of water depths and have therefore received growing attention. Yet the dominant wave attenuation mechanisms and key hydrodynamic responses differ among FB configurations, making it difficult to compare their performance and select suitable analysis methods. This review examines advances in FB configurations, analysis methods, and hydrodynamic characteristics. It summarizes structural types and shows that FB design has evolved from reliance on principal dimensions and wave reflection toward the combined use of multiple attenuation mechanisms. The applicability and limitations of empirical methods, potential flow methods, computational fluid dynamics, and experimental methods are compared. Structural optimization, mooring system design, wave attenuation mechanisms, and fluid–structure interaction are also reviewed, with attention paid to motions, loads, and local flows. Key unresolved challenges include broadband attenuation of long-period waves, safety under extreme sea states, performance trade-offs in multifunctional systems, and scale effects and prototype validation. By linking FB configuration characteristics with dominant wave attenuation mechanisms, key hydrodynamic responses, and the applicability of different analysis methods, this review provides an integrated comparative framework for evaluating FB performance, selecting appropriate analysis methods, and supporting engineering assessment in deep and far-offshore waters.

The domain of maritime engineering is continually evolving with a focus on optimizing the performance and safety of ships and offshore structures

Digitalisation is reshaping the relationship between the ocean and information