ONE and ClassNK Launch Joint Study on Anti-Rolling Tanks for Container Ships
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- safety 4seaONE and ClassNK launch study to assess roll damping tanks on container ships
- Portal PortuarioONE y ClassNK investigan eficacia de tanques de amortiguación de balanceo en portacontenedores
- Marine insightNew Study To Evaluate Effectiveness of Roll Damping Tanks On Large Container Ships
- mundo maritimoONE y ClassNK estudian efectividad de tanques de amortiguación de balanceo en portacontenedores
- Trade newsOcean Network Express partners with ClassNK on roll damping tank study
Ocean Network Express (ONE) and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) have launched a joint research project to evaluate the effectiveness of roll damping tanks, known as RDTs, on large container ships. The carrier will provide measurement data collected on board its fleet, which the classification society will analyze together with numerical simulations to determine how these systems perform under real-world operating and navigation conditions.
How RDTs Work
Roll damping tanks reduce a vessel's rolling motion through the controlled movement of liquid within a tank. This technology has long been established on passenger vessels, research vessels and other specialized ships, and in recent years its application has also extended to container ships.
Why Reducing Roll Matters
Reducing roll motion is important for large container ships because excessive movement can increase the forces acting on containers and their lashing systems. Effective control can support safer operations and more stable cargo transport, while also enabling more efficient stowage and greater operational flexibility. Interest in this type of solution comes amid incidents of container loss overboard, such as the one that occurred in September 2025 at the Port of Long Beach, California, involving the 5,504 TEU vessel Mississippi, built in 2024.
A Gap to Be Filled
Despite the growing adoption of RDTs on container ships, their performance has mainly been assessed through model testing and numerical simulations, while full-scale verification based on onboard measurements under actual operating and marine conditions remains limited. To address this gap, ONE will provide operational data from its vessels, and ClassNK will apply its expertise in testing, numerical simulation and technical analysis.
Statements from the Parties
Kumi Miyashita, Corporate Officer at ClassNK, noted that combining full-scale measurement data with numerical analysis aims to contribute to safer, more efficient operations by establishing a reliable basis for assessing RDT performance under real operating and marine conditions. For his part, Masaharu Urabe, Senior Vice President of Global Ship Management at ONE, stated that the goal is to establish a practical methodology for quantifying the effectiveness of RDTs, which would improve operational safety as well as stowage efficiency and cargo capacity.
ONE and ClassNK announced that they will continue sharing operational data and technical knowledge to drive innovation, with the aim of contributing to safer, more reliable and more efficient container shipping, and to a more resilient and stable supply chain.
