Human-centred design iterations for operational safety and efficiency
Conference/JournalMARIN Report 147
Date26 May 2026
Humans remain at the heart of complex maritime operations, and their input is essential when shaping safe and practical vessel designs. By integrating crew feedback early in the design process, potential issues can be identified long before construction begins.
MARIN recently demonstrated this approach at the Seven Oceans Simulation centre (SOSc), where virtual reality (VR) and advanced simulator facilities were combined to create a mixed reality environment for operational design validation.
The client, Carbon Collectors, is developing an offshore CO₂ transport and storage concept in which an Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) delivers CO₂ to a Tower Loading Unit (TLU) in the North Sea for injection into a depleted gas field. The relatively small size of the tug and the harsh North Sea environment raised some concerns about tug motion during prolonged operations - particularly in relation to crew safety and comfort.
MARIN recently demonstrated this approach at the Seven Oceans Simulation centre (SOSc), where virtual reality (VR) and advanced simulator facilities were combined to create a mixed reality environment for operational design validation.
The client, Carbon Collectors, is developing an offshore CO₂ transport and storage concept in which an Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) delivers CO₂ to a Tower Loading Unit (TLU) in the North Sea for injection into a depleted gas field. The relatively small size of the tug and the harsh North Sea environment raised some concerns about tug motion during prolonged operations - particularly in relation to crew safety and comfort.
Contact
Hafizul Islam
project manager
Improved focus and safety
The project demonstrates the value of embedding human validation within iterative design. It also reflects MARIN’s mission “to combine simulation, data and human factors to create greater impact from concept to operation”. The mixed-reality campaign represented the next step in this iterative process - testing operational limits in a realistic, human-centred setting. By allowing the client to experience and refine operations before the vessel is built, the team reduced risk, increased confidence, and ensured that both vessel and procedures are grounded in operational reality.
Drone view of the Large Motion Simulator with the motion base active
Human-centred design iterations