Technological Implementations in the Naval Construction Area at the University of Cádiz: Ensuring the Future of the Naval Industry

The future of the naval industry is directly related to the competencies acquired by professionals in the sector. Many of these professionals are currently conducting research in various universities. The Naval Construction Area at the University of Cádiz has been working on a strategy of technological implementation to enhance the design, construction, and repair of ships by our researchers and future graduates, who will play a crucial role in the success of the naval industry in the coming years. These technologies are applicable to naval and ocean engineering projects, including new constructions, repairs, and conversions, as well as various disciplines such as hydrodynamics, behavior at sea, and maneuverability. This work describes the facilities, technological equipment, and innovative methodology employed by the research team, which include a naval manufacturing workshop for composite materials with vacuum and injection machines, an additive manufacturing laboratory with filament and resin-based 3D printers, a welding and welded joint inspection workshop equipped with specialized machinery for different joining and inspection technologies, a hydrodynamics laboratory, a ship stability simulator, and a naval design office with multiple measurement sensors and a three-dimensional scanning device.