Jeune Marine highlights Stars of Hydro, a multidisciplinary engineering student team from Yıldız Technical University, competing in the Retrofit Challenge of HydroContest by ENSM. Their mission: rethink an existing vessel to improve its energy efficiency and reduce its environmental impact. Combining engineering analysis, innovation, and teamwork, they are tackling one of the key challenges facing the maritime sector today.
Before diving into the technical aspects of their project, the Stars of Hydro team looks back at the origins of their adventure and what motivated them to join the HydroContest Retrofit Challenge.
Can you introduce your team (composition, roles, and backgrounds of the members) and explain the motivations that led you to participate in the HydroContest Retrofit Challenge by ENSM?
Our team, Stars of Hydro, is a multidisciplinary student engineering team from Yıldız Technical University, active since 2017 in surface and underwater vehicle competitions.
Over the years, we have developed several projects such as Barlas, Barbaros, and Piri Reis, and we previously represented Türkiye at the HydroContest in Switzerland.
Today, we are working on autonomous surface and underwater vehicles, focusing on energy efficiency, optimized hull forms, and propulsion systems. This engineering mindset naturally aligns with the Retrofit Challenge, which aims to improve the efficiency of existing vessels.
Within this project:
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Yiğit leads technical coordination and system integration
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Nilsu works on propeller and rudder efficiency
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Rauf focuses on combustion and engine performance
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Ulaş and Yiğit support structural improvements and weight reduction strategies
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Celil and İbrahim develop solutions related to bulb optimization, wind deflectors, waste heat recovery, and automation systems
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Akif manages social media and communication
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Hümeyra, the team captain, oversees coordination, planning, sponsorship, and administrative processes
Inspired by the words of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk —
« For everything in the world—for civilization, for life, for success—the truest guide is science and knowledge » —
We aim to represent our country while contributing to cleaner, more efficient, and environmentally friendly ships through practical retrofit solutions.
The Retrofit Challenge requires working on an existing vessel with significant operational constraints. What approach did you take to understand the support vessel and identify the most relevant transformation levers?
Our approach is based on an engineering revision process, primarily focused on the main engine and generator systems.
Since retrofit operations are generally carried out during dry docking periods, we considered how our recommendations could realistically be implemented during those timeframes. In this context, we analyzed which types of repairs or upgrades could have the greatest impact on reducing carbon emissions.
At the same time, we are studying energy-saving devices for the rudder and propeller to improve propulsion efficiency, maximize fuel savings, and reduce emissions.
Did you encounter any difficulties or reconsiderations during your work? Were some of your initial assumptions revised in light of technical, economic, or operational constraints?
At the beginning of the project, we expected to receive detailed hull and structural data, so our initial plan was to focus on hull form optimization and structural improvements.
However, once the project data was shared, we realized that the most detailed information concerned the engine room and propulsion systems, while structural data was more limited.
As a result, we revised our approach and shifted our focus toward machinery optimization, combustion analysis, and propulsion efficiency.
We also prioritized solutions that could be implemented during regular docking periods without major structural modifications, ensuring lower costs and minimal operational disruption. This allowed us to concentrate on practical and realistic retrofit solutions.
HydroContest is primarily a human adventure, based on sharing, mentoring, and exchanging knowledge between students, teachers, and maritime professionals. What are your expectations for this event, both on a personal and professional level? Do you have a memorable anecdote to share?
We see HydroContest not only as a technical competition, but also as a unique environment where people from different disciplines come together, share experiences, learn from each other, and gain new perspectives.
We believe this process will provide us not only with technical improvements, but also with an international engineering culture and a strong professional network.
This competition also has a special meaning for our team. The first major competition of Stars of Hydro was the HydroContest in 2019, where we participated with the Barbaros vessel. That small but highly motivated team helped shape the identity and engineering mindset of what Stars of Hydro is today.
In the following years, some team members graduated and the team structure evolved. We focused on internal R&D projects, developing different surface and underwater vehicles and strengthening our technical expertise.
This year, we decided to return to competitions, and participating once again in HydroContest—this time in the Retrofit Challenge category—represents a true rebirth for our team.
For this reason, this project is not only a technical challenge but also a meaningful step forward that connects our team’s past with its future.
