ARL to Develop Investment as 3D Product Model Design Software

Albacore Research Ltd (ARL) has announced that its ShipConstructor software has been named design software-of-choice under the Second-Tier Shipyard Design Enhancement Program, which was recently granted funding under the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) Advanced Shipbuilding Enterprise initiative. The NSRP Advanced Shipbuilding Enterprise is a collaborative program aimed at boosting productivity among U.S. first- and second-tier shipbuilding and repair yards. Recent project awards included $1.25 million for the development of standard shared CAD software for commonality of designs of critical components such as HVAC and piping systems and creation of a common parts catalogue. The NSRP project funding will provide for an intensive six-month development program for ARL to upgrade, modify and enhance selected portions of the ShipConstructor software package to fully meet the design requirements of the U.S. second-tier shipyard industry. Pat Cahill, Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co. Inc., said, “ShipConstructor was independently selected for this program, based on its core functionality as an affordable 3-D product modeling software, which integrates seamlessly with AutoCAD, the de facto international CAD software standard. This project represents the largest single collaborative effort by the U.S. shipbuilding industry to standardize the use of a common design package through active participation in the development of software specifications to meet the needs of both the first- and second-tier shipyards.” The second-tier shipyard design improvement program, headed by Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co., Inc., includes seven shipyards and four naval architect firms, representing the core of second-tier shipbuilding and ship design in the United States. It complements a similar program also underway on behalf of the nation’s first-tier shipbuilders. “This initiative will enable smaller shipyards, which often are faced with short-lead-time one-off design situations and a high level reliance on design subcontractors for overflow work, to become world-class competitors through the use of an affordable AutoCAD compatible standard design package,” said Rolf Oetter, president of ARL.