Istanbul Technical University's Faculty of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering has marked another pioneering achievement in Türkiye. As autumn began, the Marine Robotics Laboratory successfully performed a model-scale dynamic positioning (DP) demonstration of a TP-OTC offshore supply vessel at ITU Lake. This milestone represents the first experimental test and public demonstration of a ship dynamic positioning system on a physical scale model in the country.

The scale model ship used in the study is designed with a high-maneuverability configuration. The 1/21 scale model of TP-OTC’s offshore supply vessel Sancar is equipped with two bow thrusters, two stern thrusters, two propellers, and two rudders. The mathematical modeling of these actuators, integrated with the vessel’s hydrodynamics, and their implementation into a simulation environment was completed following nearly two years of intensive R&D. The developed system was first validated in a numerical simulation environment before proceeding to physical model testing. The successful execution of these tests was the culmination of intensive effort by the Marine Robotics Laboratory team, supported by technical contributions from ITU’s Department of Geomatics Engineering.

According to the project team, this work represents more than an advance in maneuver control: it also delivers a powerful message about the critical importance of simulation and the digital twin approach. The project lead, Prof. Dr. Ömer Kemal Kınacı, emphasized that the dynamic positioning system could not have been brought to this stage without the developed simulation infrastructure. He specifically noted that a simulator is not merely a "computer game," but an indispensable engineering tool for modern maritime endeavors.

The work is noted as a significant milestone for both the defense industry and the maritime sector. The team clarified that the ultimate objective is to develop a fully autonomous unmanned surface vessel, and stressed that in such projects, simulator and digital twin infrastructure should not be treated as a "skippable intermediate step," but rather as a foundational component of the entire development process.

Through this project, the Faculty of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering at Istanbul Technical University has reinforced its pioneering role in the fields of dynamic positioning, simulation technologies, and autonomous maritime systems, both in academic and industrial contexts.