Vacatures art director Rotterdam

Challenge: “Kiss & ride” concept to move containers from barge to terminal and vice-versa

Change: New design will cause change in the entire port logistics

Impact: Make autonomous port operations happen

Job description

To flatten the curve of climate change, urgent actions are needed. In 2019 the European Commission (EC) launched the European Green Deal (EGD) strategy to overcome climate change challenges. Complementary to this the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy was published in December 2020. Greening transport is one of the key objectives of the EGD. Transport accounts for 25% of the EU’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The objective of the EGD is to reduce the GHG emissions of transport by 90% by 2050. Waterborne transport accounts for approximately 13% of EU’s transport GHG emissions, which equals to more than 3% of the total EU GHG emissions.

In this context, seaports will play a major role in boosting the use of cleaner technologies, green energy carriersand logistics concepts in maritime transport (sea), port operations (transshipment and storage) and hinterland transport (road, rail, barge, and pipeline) to reduce GHG emissions.The Port of Rotterdam, the largest seaport in Europe with many transport connections for all modes of transport, is frontrunner in the energy transition and has the vision to become a zero-emission port by 2050. Together with the Fellow Ports HAROPA, Sines and DeltaPort (inland port),the Port of Rotterdam supports theEGD sustainability goals. The intention is to perform a large range of pilot projects as input for a Masterplan toward zero emissions in 2050 by 45 consortium partners working together in the MAGPIE project.

MAGPIE will create demonstration and pilot projects in the living laboratory environment ofthe Port of Rotterdam, to advance technological, operational, digital and organisational aspects of energy supply for use in ports and reduce emissions.

This PhD project is focused on developing terminal approachand transshipment concept that enables to instantly and autonomously load and unload small-scale barge within a kiss and ride concept, incorporating seamless integration possibilities with terminal operations (stack). The autonomous transshipment equipment is interconnected with purpose-designed inter-terminal barges operating at the ‘non-sea-side’ and autonomous trucks.

The design of autonomous transshipment infrastructure will be anew concept design and not automating an existing one.The design will mainly focus onthe design of dedicated equipment for autonomous loading/unloading of the autonomous barge, however it will take in consideration the interaction with surrounding systems (the barge size, optimal position, orientation and location, system for autonomous mooring/unmooring etc.), hereby contributing to reaching port logistics sustainability goals. An integrated design of the equipment for autonomous quick loading/unloading of container(s) will include positioning, orientation as well as structural integrity, and will be developed using advanced design tools including systemdynamics analyses,advanced analytical modeling, FEA modeling and multi-body simulations. The integrated system design will include system design level for overall functionality and a generative design for the individual equipment. The design will consider ; system level from logistics point of view, equipment and cargo level. The innovative concept is envisioned to include the structural design of the equipment, as well as all interfaces, sensors, actuators and controllers for autonomous loading/unloading.

The design will be validated using a model-scale demonstrator setup at TU Delft lab facilities to showcase the innovative concept design for autonomoustransshipment. The transshipment system will be tested with the interaction of the existing TU Delft fleet to show the potential for scaling up towards real-size implementation in the Port of Rotterdam by collaborating with the consortium partners.

Requirements

Applicants for this position should have the following:

• MSc in mechanical engineering, maritime technology, mechanical design, system engineering or related areas.
• Good communication and writing skills in English.
• Collaborative attitude with companies and research institutes.
• Desirable: demonstrable affinity with design in a port or logistic context.
• Desirable: experience in parametric or generative design.
• Desirable: Affinity with control engineering and system design.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2541,- per month in the first year to € 3247,- in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the 3mE faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

3mE is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in 3mE’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Jovana Jovanova, Assistant Professor Large-scale Adaptive Metastructures, Mechanisms and Machines J.Jovanova@tudelft.nl or Ms. Dr. ir. Dingena Schott, Associate Professor Machine Cargo Interaction & Logistics Director of Studies Transport, Infrastructure and Logistics (MSc TIL) D.l.schott@tudelft.nl.   

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before 1 May 2023 via the application button. If a suitable candidate is chosen that means that the position could be filled before the closing date.

• Please upload a detailed CV including contact information, academic record, and at least two referees.
• Virtual interviews will be conducted for shortlisted candidates.
• We do not require reference letters at this stage, however, the referees maybe contacted before the candidate is hired.  
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.