Development Centre for Ship Technology and Transport Systems

The Development Centre for Ship Technology and Transport Systems (German: Entwicklungszentrum für Schiffstechnik und Transportsysteme e.V., abbreviated DST) is a non-profit research institute based in Duisburg, Germany. It traces its origins to 1954, when the Versuchsanstalt für Binnenschiffbau (VBD, Inland Shipbuilding Research Institute) was established in Duisburg at the initiative of regional industry and with support from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the city of Duisburg. The institute was founded in the context of the reconstruction of the German inland fleet after the Second World War, when there was a growing need for inland-vessel-oriented bulk transport. In 2004 the VBD was transformed into the DST, reflecting a broadening of its research scope beyond traditional model testing. The DST is specialised in shallow-water hydrodynamics, a focus that is reflected in the design of its test facilities and that has given it a distinctive position among shipbuilding research institutes worldwide. Its work covers systematic fundamentals for inland vessel design, hull-form optimisation, manoeuvrability, and the continuous improvement of propulsion systems. Ship hulls, forms and propulsion units are tested as models in the towing tank. The institute also addresses the trend towards larger vessel units, the interaction of ships with rivers and canals, and the economic and environmental aspects of inland navigation. In addition to shipbuilding research, the centre has expanded into other hydrodynamic projects, such as the Nemos wave power plant and the combined tidal and wind power plant WindTide, and it offers transport-policy consulting and market studies in the field of transport systems. The DST is a registered voluntary association (eingetragener Verein). Since 2014 it has been a member of the Johannes-Rau-Forschungsgemeinschaft, a network of research institutions in North Rhine-Westphalia. In March 2025 the DST agreed a strategic research and development alliance with the Federal Waterways Engineering and Geoinformation Agency (Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau), with the shared goal of strengthening the ship/waterway transport system. The institute remains active in 2026, appearing as an exhibitor at trade fairs such as STL in Kalkar and boot in Düsseldorf, and participating in EU projects such as ARIELL and the BinSmart accompanying research group. As a research and development organisation rather than a commercial manufacturer, the DST's 'products' are research services, model testing, simulation, consulting and project work for the maritime and inland navigation sector. Its research vessel NOVA is a notable asset highlighted at trade fairs.

The Development Centre for Ship Technology and Transport Systems (DST) traces its origins to 1954, when the Versuchsanstalt für Binnenschiffbau (VBD, Inland Shipbuilding Research Institute) was put into operation in Duisburg. The institute was established at the initiative of the regional economy and with support from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the city of Duisburg. The background to this initiative was the destruction of large parts of the German inland fleet combined with an increasing demand for inland-vessel-oriented bulk transport during the post-war reconstruction. The VBD's specialisation in shallow-water hydrodynamics, reflected in the design of its test facilities, established a worldwide special position among shipbuilding research institutes, a distinction it holds to this day. To highlight this trademark, the VBD early on adopted the additional name 'Institut für Flachwasserhydrodynamik' (Institute for Shallow-Water Hydrodynamics). Since the founding of the VBD, the test facilities have been expanded and supplemented several times. The central shallow-water tank was lengthened in two stages in 1957 and 1967 from an original 140 metres to a total of 200 metres in order to gain additional measuring distance. In 1978 a shallow-water wave generator was installed, followed in 1989 by the construction of an observation tunnel beneath the floor of the shallow-water tank. The last major measure to the test facilities dates from 2002 and concerns the installation of a high-speed towing carriage allowing test speeds of up to 15 m/s. Alongside these infrastructural upgrades, important extensions of the working area were made, opening up new fields of activity beyond traditional model testing. A first extension resulted from the growing use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). In 2004 the VBD was transformed into the Entwicklungszentrum für Schiffstechnik und Transportsysteme (DST), reflecting a broadening of its research scope. Since 2014 the DST has been a member of the Johannes-Rau-Forschungsgemeinschaft, a network of research institutions in North Rhine-Westphalia. In March 2025 the DST agreed a strategic research and development alliance with the Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau (Federal Waterways Engineering and Geoinformation Agency), with the shared goal of strengthening the ship/waterway transport system. The institute remains active in 2026, participating in EU projects such as ARIELL and the BinSmart accompanying research group, and exhibiting at trade fairs including STL in Kalkar and boot in Düsseldorf. Historically, the German inland fleet was almost completely destroyed by the end of the Second World War, and the Allied Control Council had banned shipbuilding in Germany after the war. Scientific engagement with inland shipbuilding through an experimental institute using model tests was therefore advantageous. Experimental institutes for shipbuilding and shipping existed in Germany only for seagoing shipping, even though inland navigation on rivers, with its upstream and downstream travel, places extremely varied demands on ships, propulsion and manoeuvring equipment. The DST's research tasks have therefore included the development of systematic fundamentals for inland vessel construction and form optimisation, with particular attention to manoeuvrability and continuous improvement of propulsion systems. Ship hulls and forms and their propulsion systems are tested as models in the towing channel. The components of propulsion are the drive engine, the propeller and the associated aft ship. Flow conditions and pressure conditions at the aft ship and around the propeller are decisive for good overall efficiency. The trend towards larger vessel units in inland navigation creates new challenges, as the interactions of ships with rivers or canals become increasingly important, affecting dimensions, propulsion, rudders and especially bow thrusters. The economic efficiency of inland vessels depends, alongside investment and operating costs, on revenues that are predominantly limited by carrying capacity. Carrying capacity results from the parameters length, width and draught, which are prescribed by the rivers, canals and locks, i.e. by the waterway infrastructure of the operating areas. The chosen speed influences propulsion power and therefore fuel demand and environmental impact. These relationships are investigated through model tests in the tank, in the simulator and through supplementary analyses. In the future, reductions in environmental impact will become increasingly important. Ships have the lowest specific fuel consumption per tonne-kilometre of all means of transport, so there is future research need here. A sustainable integration of inland, coastal and deep-sea shipping into transport chains is also becoming increasingly urgent in order to relieve seaports and roads. Besides research for shipbuilding, the centre now also develops other projects in which hydrodynamics plays a role, for example the Nemos wave power plant and the combined tidal and wind power plant WindTide. In addition, transport-policy consulting and market studies in the field of transport systems are offered.

• 2025

  Strategic research and development alliance agreed with the Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau.

• 2014

  DST becomes a member of the Johannes-Rau-Forschungsgemeinschaft.

• 2004

  VBD transformed into the Entwicklungszentrum für Schiffstechnik und Transportsysteme (DST).

• 2002

  High-speed towing carriage installed, allowing test speeds up to 15 m/s.

• 1989

  Observation tunnel built beneath the floor of the shallow-water tank.

• 1978

  Shallow-water wave generator installed.

• 1967

  Central shallow-water tank lengthened to a total of 200 metres.

• 1957

  Central shallow-water tank lengthened in the first of two stages.

• 1954

  Versuchsanstalt für Binnenschiffbau (VBD) put into operation in Duisburg.

Non-profit research institute with a worldwide special position in shallow-water hydrodynamics and inland shipbuilding research.

• Shallow-water towing tank testing

  Model testing of ship hulls, forms and propulsion systems in the shallow-water tank.

• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

  Numerical simulation expanding beyond traditional model testing.

• Transport-policy consulting and market studies

  Consulting and market research in the field of transport systems.

• Research vessel NOVA

  Highlight of the DST stand at boot 2026.

1. 1Entwicklungszentrum für Schiffstechnik und Transportsysteme e.V. – Homepagedst-org.de
2. 2Geschichte – Entwicklungszentrum für Schiffstechnik und Transportsysteme e.V.dst-org.de
3. 3Development Centre for Ship Technology and Transport Systems – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Entwicklungszentrum für Schiffstechnik und Transportsysteme – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org