Dr Claudio Rodriguez Castillo

Experimental Officer

Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering

Personal statement

I am a Research Fellow in the Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering (NAOME) at the University of Strathclyde. My research focuses on the hydrodynamics of ships and offshore structures with recent emphasis on floating offshore renewable energy systems, including floating wind turbines, wave energy converters, and multi‑purpose offshore platforms. With over 20 years of experience in numerical modelling and experimental testing, I aim to bridge the gap between academic research and industry application. I currently lead industry‑funded projects on concept selection, design optimisation, and due diligence for floating offshore wind. I am a Chartered Engineer (CEng), Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), and Member of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (MRINA). I welcome collaboration in floating offshore renewables, experimental hydrodynamics, and blue economy systems.

Expertise

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Prize And Awards

Chartered Engineer (CEng): Recipient; 9/4/2026
Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy (FHEA): Recipient; 15/1/2026
Member of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (MRINA): Recipient; 11/6/2025
Destaques Politécnica-UFRJ: Recipient; 16/12/2024
Investigador RENACYT (Grupo Carlos Monge Medrano - Level 1) Qualification: Recipient; 4/5/2021
Best M.Sc. thesis in Ocean Engineering (Co-Supervisor): Recipient; 4/2017

More prizes and awards

Qualifications

Academic Degrees:

DSc in Ocean Engineering – Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil (2010). Best PhD thesis award (CREA-RJ, 2011)
MSc in Ocean Engineering – Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil (2004)
BSc in Naval Engineering – National University of Engineering (UNI), Peru (1999) – 5‑year degree
Postgraduate Specialisation in Offshore Systems – Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil (2004)

Professional Memberships & Chartership

Chartered Engineer (CEng) – Engineering Council UK (2026)
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) – UK (2026)
Member of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (MRINA) – (2025)

Research & Professional Recognition

Tier I Researcher – Peruvian National Science and Technology Registry (CONCYTEC).
External Advisory Committee Member – Research Centre in Naval and Industrial Technologies (CITENI), University of A Coruña, Spain (2023–2026)
Deputy Editor – Marine Systems & Ocean Technology (Springer, 2025–present)
Former Chairman – ITTC Ocean Engineering Committee (2017–2021); member (2014–2017)
Member – International Ship Stability R&D Committee (SRDC, 2011–present)

Awards

Highlights 2024 – Polytechnic School, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)
Best MSc Thesis Award (Co‑Supervisor) – CREA‑RJ, Brazil (2017)
Best PhD Thesis Award (Author) – CREA‑RJ, Brazil (2011)
SOBENA Award (3rd place) – Best Technical Paper, Brazilian Society of Naval Engineering (2004)

Publications

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Publications

A review of fluid–structure interaction modelling for integrated analysis of floating offshore wind turbine substructures: Ran Xiaoming, Rodriguez Claudio A, Rui Shengjie, Wang Xintong, Brennan Feargal, Collu Maurizio; Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews Vol 240 (2026); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2026.117223
Phase space analysis of roll dynamics and stability for a semisubmersible near neutral equilibrium: Villagómez Rosales José Carlos, Rodríguez Castillo Claudio A, de Tarso Themistocles Esperança Paulo; Ocean Engineering Vol 359 (2026); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2026.125996
FTLP+ : An alternative solution for intermediate and deep-water offshore wind: Rodriguez Castillo Claudio Alexis, McPherson Keith, Collu Maurizio, Dai David; International Conference on Ocean, Offshore, and Arctic Engineering (OMAE) 2026 ASME 2026 45th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering (OMAE2026) (2026)
Structural design and integrity assessment of FOWT substructures : supporting cost efficiency across the life cycle: Wang Xintong, Rodriguez Castillo Claudio Alexis, Ran Xiaoming, Collu Maurizio, Brennan Feargal; Supergen ORE Hub Early Career Researchers Forum and Annual Assembly (2026)
Adapting floating offshore wind-hydrogen systems for emerging markets : the case of the Ica region, Peru: Rodríguez Claudio A, Collu Maurizio, Brennan Feargal; Marine Systems & Ocean Technology Vol 21 (2026); https://doi.org/10.1007/s40868-026-00215-1
Forming leaders for the blue economy : Naval and ocean engineering in the era of global transformation: Rodriguez Castillo Claudio Alexis; 29th Pan-American Congress of Naval Engineering, Maritime Transportation, and Port Engineering (2025)

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Teaching

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Teaching

I teach undergraduate and postgraduate modules in marine hydrodynamics and offshore renewable energy, including The Marine Environment and Renewable Marine Energy Systems at Strathclyde. Previously, I have delivered courses on experimental hydrodynamics, seakeeping, manoeuvring, wave energy conversion, and ocean fluid‑structure dynamics at UFRJ (Brazil), the University of Tokyo, and other partner institutions. I have supervised one PhD, five MSc, and fourteen undergraduate projects. I use real‑world case studies and flipped classroom methods to connect theory with industry practice.

Research

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Research Interests

Hydrodynamics of floating offshore wind turbines (semisubmersibles, TLPs, barges; concept selection, design optimisation, due diligence)
Wave energy converters – experimental and numerical optimisation, power take‑off (PTO) characterisation
Multi‑purpose offshore platforms – integration of renewable energy, aquaculture, desalination
Ship stability and dynamics – intact and damage stability, parametric rolling, nonlinear responses, extreme waves
Fishing vessel safety – stability in waves, operational limits
Oil and gas platforms – FPSOs, semisubmersibles, jack‑ups; hydrodynamic modelling and model testing
Numerical simulation – frequency‑ and time‑domain methods using state‑of‑the‑art tools (OrcaFlex, OpenFAST, WAMIT, SESAM, ANSYS AQWA) and in‑house developed codes
Experimental hydrodynamics – wave basin and towing tank model testing, validation of numerical codes
Mooring systems – design, analysis, line tensions, global performance of floating structures
Second‑generation intact stability criteria (IMO) – application to ships and offshore platforms

Professional Activities

Forming Leaders for the Blue Economy: Naval and Ocean Engineering in the Era of Global Transformation: Speaker; 30/9/2025
29th Pan-American Congress of Naval Engineering, Maritime Transportation, and Port Engineering: Participant; 29/9/2025
Advancing Energy Transition and Green Hydrogen: Design Considerations for a Standalone Floating Platform for Offshore Wind-Hydrogen Production: Speaker; 29/9/2025
44th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering (OMAE 2025): Participant; 22/6/2025
Ocean REFuel: Support Structures for Offshore “Green Fuel” Systems: Speaker; 21/6/2023
Análisis crítico de los criterios de estabilidad intacta aplicados a una balsa de transporte offshore: Speaker; 21/6/2023

More professional activities

Projects

Mull Kelp Farm Wave Attenuation Study: Rodriguez Castillo, Claudio Alexis (Principal Investigator) Collu, Maurizio (Co-investigator) Dai, David (Co-investigator); 30-Jan-2026 - 29-Jan-2027
FTLP+: Dai, David (Principal Investigator) Collu, Maurizio (Co-investigator) Rodriguez Castillo, Claudio Alexis (Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2025 - 30-Jan-2026
Revision of the Offshore Wind Turbine Floating Substructure for the Nemetun Offshore Wind Farm: Collu, Maurizio (Principal Investigator) Rodriguez Castillo, Claudio Alexis (Researcher); 01-Jan-2025 - 30-Jan-2025
Oil States Industries ATLP: Due Diligence on Fatigue Analyses: Collu, Maurizio (Principal Investigator) Rodriguez Castillo, Claudio Alexis (Researcher); 01-Jan-2024 - 30-Jan-2025
Response strategies for WEF system of fishing communities under climate change: Feasibility analysis of an offshore multi-functional floating platform integrating aquaculture-ocean energy-desalination: Zhang, Xiantao (Principal Investigator) Themistocles Esperança, Paulo de Tarso (Principal Investigator) Rodriguez Castillo, Claudio Alexis (Co-investigator) Akshoy Ranjan, Paul (Co-investigator); Joint project with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China and Motilal Nehru National Institute Technology Allahabad, India. Development of a concept design of a multipurpose platform to produce seafood (aquaculture) and freshwater (seawater desalination) for remote coastal communities in Brazil, China and India using ocean renewable energy.; 01-Jan-2024 - 31-Jan-2026
Due Diligence Work on the Design of a Floating Rig for Kelp Farming: Rodriguez Castillo, Claudio Alexis (Principal Investigator); This project was led my myself from the negotiation stage (scope and cost), specifications and coordination with the client, execution to its deliverables (final report). The project consisted in the elaboration of the state-of-the-art review on support structures for offshore kelp farming, providing recommendations for the client. Then, the concept design of a floating rig for offshore kelp farming (provided by the client) was analysed in terms of engineering soundness. The results were consolidated in a final technical report.; 21-Jan-2024 - 20-Jan-2024