About LOOM

Find out more about LOOM

The Liverpool Logistics, Offshore and Marine Research Institute (LOOM) specialises in marine, offshore and transport sectors.

LOOM’s multidisciplinary work mainly focuses on the design and operation of large marine, offshore, port, transport and logistics systems. However, within the marine, offshore and transport sectors, LOOM has also carved out an exceptional international reputation for its work within risk and safety management, especially in relation to Risktec. More specifically, LOOM’s research interests, include:

3D-simulation of logistics movement
Evolutionary algorithms and optimisation
Formal Ship safety assessment
Human and organisational error studies
Logistics supply chain studies
Marine and offshore system design
Navigation studies
Offshore safety analysis
Simulation studies of marine systems
Marine logistics studies

Offshore structural assessment
Port safety assessment
Port studies
Simulator and optimisation of port operations
Quality modelling
Appraisal of marine regulation performance
Transport modelling
Simulator based research
Security studies

Research impact

Research projects undertaken by LOOM have contributed to the modernisation and productivity of the marine and transport industries, not only in the UK but also globally. For example, researchers from the Group worked on three projects – InTraDE, Newton and UKAP – that have all helped to improve the efficiency of port and terminal operations in Europe and the Far East. These projects have also helped to develop specialist automation, as well as new techniques for optimising container movements.

In addition to this, members at LOOM have also helped improve ship scheduling for Atlantic Container Line, contributed to the development and restructuring of container terminals in Liverpool, Dublin, Le Havre, Oostende, Haiphong and developed a number of novel methodologies which are finding applications in industrial and commercial sectors, including the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).

In total, LOOM works with over 50 UK and global industrial and regulatory partners, including: AMEC, Bibby Line, Shell, Lloyds Register, QARS Management and Engineering Consulting, Maersk Line, Peel Group, ABS Group, VECTRA Group Ltd, Maritime and Coast Guard Agency, AECOM, Red Ninja, TfGM, Mersey Travel, Greenport, Nippon Express, ACL, Container Port, AIMES, as well as the Offshore Safety Division of the UK government’s Health and Safety Executive.

LOOM’s work is also supported by various research and professional bodies, including IMarEST and SaRS, in addition to UK and international research partners including:

World Maritime University
Lille University of Technology
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Incheon University
Manchester University
University of Birmingham
University of Antwerp
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Wuhan University of Technology
Beijing Jiaotong University
China Geosciences University
Vietnam National University
Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport

In the future, LOOM are working towards becoming a centre of excellence in design and operation of large engineering systems, such as: ships, offshore installations, port terminal, transportation systems and logistics chains.

Case study

Research within LOOM has led to advances in risk and security-based decision making which has impacted the maritime industry both in the UK and overseas.