About NTUA
The National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) is the oldest technical university in Greece and participates in the NH3CRAFT project through three key laboratories: the Shipbuilding Technology Laboratory (STL), the Laboratory for Maritime Transport (LMT), and the Laboratory of Marine Engineering (LME). NTUA’s mission is to advance scientific knowledge, promote innovation, and support industrial and societal progress.
- STL focuses on shipbuilding, engineering materials, and the structural analysis and design of marine structures. STL has significantly contribute to advancements in ship structures and materials science through past and on-going high-profile projects. These include HORIZON projects such as NH3CRAFT, which focuses on the safe and efficient storage of ammonia on ships to support the transition to cleaner fuels, NICOLHy, which investigates novel insulation concepts for LH2 storage tanks, and OCEAN, which enhances navigational awareness for improved maritime safety. STL has also played a key role in researching advanced and composite materials, participating in projects such as AIOLOS, RAMSSES, and MOSAIC. Other major initiatives include dTHOR project which focuses on digital ship structural health monitoring and SHIPLYS, which improved lifecycle ship design software.
- LMT’s involvement in various research projects underscores its commitment to advancing maritime transport technology, safety, and sustainability. In the field of alternative fuels for the maritime sector, LMT is active by participating in a number of EU funded projects such as LH2CRAFT project studying Safe and Efficient Marine Transportation of Liquid Hydrogen and the SAFeCRAFT project for the Safe and Efficient Use of Sustainable Fuels in Maritime Transport Applications. In NH3CRAFT, LMT coordinated the Implementation of the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method to evaluate the performance of the developed innovative on-board transportation and storage solutions of ammonia, and the deployment of LCCA methodology for assessing the life cycle costs of ammonia storage systems on vessels, to evaluate the feasibility of ammonia storage systems.
- LME, founded in 1977, conducts advanced research across multiple maritime domains. The laboratory’s activities comprehensively cover marine prime movers, ship energy systems, auxiliary machinery, and piping networks. LME performs innovative research on engine modeling, engine-propeller interaction, and experimental engine performance. It investigates improvements in marine engine efficiency to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, while developing particular expertise in ship auxiliary systems, especially piping systems, thermodynamics of storage tanks, and modeling of flow and heat transfer in complex maritime systems. In the NH3Craft project, LME has contributed to the thermodynamic modeling of various ammonia tank configurations, calculating vapor production rates and holding times, and determining optimal insulation specifications to meet design requirements. LME has also designed modular and scalable ammonia handling, distribution, and monitoring systems adaptable to different vessel specifications, and developed comprehensive planned maintenance procedures. LME actively participates in numerous EU-funded projects focused on alternative fuels, energy efficiency, and maritime decarbonization strategies.
NTUA is committed to sustainability, innovation, and technological excellence in maritime engineering and energy systems. With strong expertise in shipbuilding, maritime transport, and marine engineering, NTUA contributes to the development of safer, more efficient, and environmentally responsible solutions for the shipping industry. The National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) is at the forefront of research and development in ammonia as a sustainable marine fuel. Its key focus areas include the structural design and integrity of steel and composite ammonia storage tanks, the safe transfer and handling of ammonia fuel, and the development of inspection and maintenance procedures supported by condition and structural health monitoring. NTUA also contributes to risk assessment, system integration, and the formulation of operational strategies for ammonia-powered vessels. In alignment with the overarching goals of the NH3CRAFT project, NTUA plays an active role in evaluating the feasibility and applicability of proposed solutions to enhance industry confidence and facilitate adoption. This involves contributions to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC), techno-commercial assessment of demonstrators, and KPI-based performance evaluations. NTUA’s expertise also supports the development of a technology roadmap, paving the way for the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible implementation of ammonia-powered technologies in the maritime sector.
Meet the Experts Driving NH3CRAFT Forward
- Nicholas Tsouvalis / Professor: Professor Tsouvalis is the Director of the Shipbuilding Technology Laboratory (STL) at NTUA and has extensive experience in the fields of structural design and numerical modelling, experimental studys, and the behavior of composite materials in marine applications. He has authored numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, coordinated European and national research projects, with over 35 years of experience in research.
Being the coordinator of the NTUA side, in the NH3CRAFT project, Prof. Tsouvalis was a point of reference for all the people involved in the project. He supervised the structural design and assessment of the ammonia storage tank systems, contributing his expertise in composite structures and experimental validation. He oversaw NTUA’s involvement in all work packages, while he assisted with the development of modular and scalable containment solutions within NH3CRAFT, ensuring alignment with industry standards and safety requirements. Last but not least he actively participated in technical meetings and knowledge dissemination activities, supporting the strategic integration of research outcomes into the maritime decarbonisation roadmap. - Christos Papadopoulos / Professor: Overviewed the work performed by LME on the thermodynamic modelling of various ammonia tank configurations, which included the calculation of boil-off rates and the determination of optimal insulation specifications versus tank holding time (WP3). He was involved in the assessment of ammonia engine developments, contributed in the detailed engineering process and to the modularity/scalability analysis of the auxiliaries (WP4), as well as participated in the risk assessment workshops (WP7). He was engaged with the definition of operational, bunkering, inspection and maintenance procedures for ammonia supply networks, involved with the advancements in ammonia fuel cell technologies (WP8) and assisted dissemination of the NH3Craft project with the publication of papers (WP11).
- Dimitrios Lyridis / Professor: Director of the Laboratory of Maritime Transport (LMT). Overviewed the work performed by LMT for the implementation of the “House of Quality” (HoQ) approach as part of the QFD methodology to evaluate the performance of the developed storage solutions of ammonia and supervised the deployment of the Life Cycle Cost methodology on ammonia storage systems on vessels to evaluate their feasibility. Contributed to the safety and risk assessment of the proposed ammonia storage solutions to derive to the optimal design solutions for minimising potential risks, based on his techno-economic expertise and participated in various workshops and conferences where the NH3CRAFT project has been promoted.
- Eva Kostidi / Post Doctoral Researcher: Implementation of the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method to evaluate the performance of the developed innovative on-board transportation and storage solutions of ammonia as marine fuel. Also, developed the methodology for assessing the life cycle costs of ammonia storage systems on vessels to evaluate the feasibility of ammonia storage systems, paving the way for their large-scale adoption and supporting global efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Lastly, she contributed to the dissemination of the project with the publication of papers based on the work implemented within the project.
- Panagiotis Sakkoulis / Research Engineer: Panagiotis Sakkoulis holds a degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and is currently pursuing an MSc in Computational Mechanics at NTUA. Panagiotis has experience in the structural analysis and design of engineering structures. He is currently a research associate at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), working within the Shipbuilding Technology Laboratory (STL) and has been involved in European and regional research projects. In the NH3CRAFT project, Panagiotis has been primarily involved in the technical work packages. His main contributions include performing structural analyses using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) on ammonia storage tanks and their supporting structures throughout the Engineering Design Process (from Concept to Detailed Design phases). He has also contributed to the design of tanks in the Desktop studies, the calculation of structural loads in accordance with Classification Society rules, and the preparation of the relevant technical deliverables.
- Elias Bilalis / Research Engineer: Elias Bilalis is a PhD Naval Architect and Marine Engineer, graduate of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Shipbuilding Technology Laboratory (STL) of the School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering of NTUA. His research focuses on the structural design of mechanical and marine structures utilizing metallic and composite materials and he is involved in several European research projects. Within the NH3CRAFT project, Elias is actively involved in the work packages related to the structural design, certification and testing of ammonia storage tanks (WP3,WP6, WP8).
- Zoi Chatzaki / Research Engineer: Zoi Chatzaki holds a degree from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics at the University of Patras (UoP) and has experience in the structural design and analysis of engineering structures. She is currently a research associate at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), working within the Shipbuilding Technology Laboratory (STL) and participating in several European research projects. In the NH3CRAFT project, Zoi is actively involved in multiple technical work packages. Her contributions include the structural design of ammonia storage tanks (WP3, WP8), the development of inspection and maintenance procedures (WP8), and the scientific dissemination of project outcomes (WP11). She plays a key role in aligning NH3CRAFT’s technical developments with safety standards, practical feasibility, and the overarching objectives of sustainable maritime innovation.
- George Charvalos / Research Engineer: George Charvalos holds a degree of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from NTUA and is currently pursuing a PhD degree in Marine Engineering. Within the NH3Craft project, George is working in multiple work packages. He carried out comprehensive thermodynamic modelling of multiple ammonia tank configurations. His work included precise calculations of boil-off rates, and determination of insulation thickness for the required holding time (WP3). He developed a heat-mass balance model for the demonstrator vessel, assisted the detailed engineering design process, investigated the developments of ammonia engine technology and contributed in the analysis on modularity and scalability characteristics of auxiliary equipment (WP4). He offered assistance to the software development on the boil-off calculations (WP5). George was actively involved in the risk assessment workshops conducted throughout the project (WP7). He was involved with defining bunkering procedures, assessing fuel cell technological developments, investigating the effect of ship size on modular ammonia supply networks and engaged with defining operational, inspection and maintenance procedures for ammonia handling networks (WP8). Finally, he contributed to the dissemination of the project with the publication of papers.
How NTUA is Powering NH3CRAFT’s Success
- [WP1 project management] – NTUA assisted with the supervision and coordination of legal, financial and administrative issues to support communication and collaboration between project partners and to form a repository for project documentation is the project coordinator ensuring effective management of the project with emphasis on meeting the EC requirements.
- [WP2 Demonstration Implementation Plan and Evaluation Criteria] – NTUA has contributed to the following:
- Assisted with the concept design of the demonstrator and the desktop studies.
- Development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), assessment metrics and QFD method for evaluating the project demonstrator and desktop studies
- [WP3 Engineering Design Process for the Tank Storage Systems] – NTUA has made significant contributions to the engineering design of the tank containment system, from the conceptual phase to detailed engineering, both for the demonstrator vessel and the desktop studies. Additionally, NTUA played a key role in the development of the Modularity and Scalability Concept.
- [WP4 Engineering Design Process for the Auxiliary Systems] – NTUA contributed to the concept and basic design of auxiliary systems for ammonia-fuelled merchant vessels, including the detailed design of a modular storage system. This work supports both the WP5 demonstrator and future installations. NTUA also assessed the impact of ammonia-fuelled internal combustion engine requirements on auxiliary system design and developed auxiliary layouts for desktop study vessels. Additionally, NTUA supported the development of modular, scalable solutions suitable for diverse operational contexts.
- [WP6 Assembly, on-board Installation and Functionality Testing of System] – NTUA contributed to the final demonstration setup, supporting the planning and integration of the ammonia storage tanks and associated auxiliary systems. Additionally, they installed a strain gauge measurement system to verify that the actual deformations align with the predicted values, further validating the structural integrity and safety of the tank design.
- [WP8 Assessment of Operational and Modularity Characteristics] – NTUA in this task contributed to the definition of the modularity and scalability aspects of NH3CRAFT with respect to the design of the tank containment system and respective auxiliaries.
- [WP9 Development of Pertinent Technical Rules]-In this work package NTUA provided all necessary data for the completion of the final stages of New Technology Qualification (NTQ) for the developed systems and technologies and issuance of the final NTQ Statement of Maturity.
- [WP10 LCA, technical assessment and KPI based evaluation] – In terms of WP10, NTUA contributed to the techno-economic evaluations of the proposed solutions, both for the demonstrator and the desktop applications, aiming to promote the adoption of ammonia in waterborne transport, and support academic research and knowledge. NTUA has coordinated and implemented the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) methodology to evaluate the performance of the developed transportation and storage solutions of ammonia as well as the implementation of the LCCA methodology for assessing the life cycle costs of ammonia storage systems on vessels.
- [WP11 Dissemination, Exploitation and Communication] – NTUA has closely monitored innovative research outcomes to ensure their effective dissemination through peer-reviewed journal articles and conference presentations, aiming for a total of 11 journal publications and 11 conference contributions.
NH3CRAFT is a Co-funded by the European Commission Project. UK participation in NH3CRAFT Project is funded by UK Research and Innovation(UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe guarantee [grant numbers 10038548 and 10037828].
