3D Product News

One-on-one with Suzanne Beckstoffer, an accomplished engineering leader and business woman, the first woman president in SNAME’s 125 year history.As the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2018, it will celebrate another historical milestone at the start of 2019 when Suzanne M. Beckstoffer takes the helm of SNAME as president, the first woman to hold this position in the association’s history. We met recently with Beckstoffer to discuss her distinguished shipbuilding career…

President Donald Trump addressed the more than 10,000 people attending the ceremony where the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), was commissioned on Saturday, July 22 in Norfolk, Va. “Wherever this vessel cuts through the horizon, our allies will rest easy and our enemies will shake with fear because everyone will know that America is coming and America is coming strong,” said Trump. Acting Secretary of the Navy Sean Stackley recalled President Theodore Roosevelt, who used to say, “Walk softly, and carry a big stick.” Stackley then turned to Trump and said, “Mr.

Software solution provider for ship design and operation NAPA Group (Napa Ltd.) has appointed Ilmo Kuutti as its new President. Kuutti assumes the position from Juha Heikinheimo, who served as President of NAPA Group for five and a half years. Kuutti holds a master’s degree in naval architecture from Helsinki University of Technology, Finland. He started his career in shipyards, where he undertook various roles throughout the 1980s. Since joining NAPA in 1991, he has been taken on various leadership positions…

NAPA and Tech Soft 3D have announced that NAPA Drafting software has been developed using the AutoCAD OEM platform from Autodesk. This allows NAPA Drafting to deliver the market standard in 2D drawing functionality automatically from NAPA 3D databases, enhancing productivity for yards and speeding compliance processes. NAPA Drafting is also able to automatically generate rich 2D section drawings from the 3D NAPA ship model created in NAPA Steel. The tool can easily and quickly extract the data from the in-progress…

The Executive Control Board of the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) has selected a new round of research and development projects for award, as part of the program's continuing mission to reduce costs associated with U. S. shipbuilding and ship repair. These new projects, valued at over $14.5 million, including cost share, were among those proposed in response to Research Announcement 14-01, issued in June 2015. Objective: This project is a follow-on to the HiDep Weld Tfillet and Butt Weld Development RA project. It aims to implement the results of the new welding process to reduce weld distortion and improve productivity in shipyard panel construction. The new process utilizes induction heating technology and has minimal capital cost requirements.

SSI CEO Darren Larkins continues to consult with shipbuilders around the globe on how to leverage 3D Product Data Models using Autodesk technology. His next presentation on 3D Product Data Models will be October 22 at the shipbuilding and offshore show KORMARINE in Busan. Larkins will demonstrate the shortcomings of traditional methods such as using drawings, Excel files and supplementary 3D viewers, and will highlight how a better approach utilizes neutral formats and platformization. For more than 13 years Larkins has met with shipbuilders around the world, developing an understanding of industry challenges and global best practices.

"Intuitive Weld Management" and "Innovative methods for leveraging a 3D model" are two of the white papers that representatives from CAD/CAM developer SSI will present this week at the 17th International Conference on Computer Applications in Shipbuilding (ICCAS) in Bremen, Germany. According to SSI, the papers showcase innovative techniques and implementations of cutting edge software technology with real-world applicability for addressing challenges in today's shipbuilding industry. Tracking and managing welds through all stages of shipbuilding is usually a disconnected, inefficient, laborious and error-prone process. The solution…

SSI's CAD/CAM ShipConstructor software utilizes a Marine Information Model (MIM) to store a wealth of data that can be leveraged for maintenance, repair and lifecycle support. Slated to exhibit at the American Society of Naval Engineers' Fleet Maintenance & Modernization Symposium (FMMS) from September 1-2 in San Diego, SSI USA informs that its representatives will be on hand to explain the ins and outs of MIM. At the core of SSI’s MIM is a complete virtual model of the entire vessel including each of the various disciplines from hull production design and structural detailing to outfitting and assembly sequencing. All engineering disciplines work within a single integrated environment…

Global maritime software, services and data analysis company NAPA announced the release of new tools and interfaces with class society software to streamline ship design compliance with Common Structural Rules for Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers (CSR BC&OT; formerly known as “harmonized CSR”) from the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). Updates to 3D structural design software, NAPA Steel, and the release of state-of-the-art geometry modeling tool, NAPA Designer, will deliver a shift from 2D to 3D design requirements.

Maritime software house NAPA released a new application to extend the NAPA Statutory Compliance solution with NAPA Release 2015.1. Once available only to ClassNK customers using ClassNK Manager, this new application integrates ClassNK Manager’s expanded functionality into the NAPA Statutory Compliance tool. This integration has expanded and developed the tool for all customers to speed the classification approval process and improve the overall efficiency of ship design. Developed with substantial investment from ClassNK and close cooperation with shipyards in Japan…

Gibbs & Cox, Inc. has  announced the appointment of Keith Harper as Vice President and Group Manager of the Gibbs & Cox Design Group. In this role, Harper will be responsible for providing guidance, direction and oversight regarding technical approach, schedule adherence, product status and technical quality for naval and commercial projects. He will also be responsible for staffing and training required to meet the schedule and quality goals of Gibbs & Cox and our customers. Harper began his career in the maritime industry as a designer in the Newport News, VA office of Gibbs & Cox, Inc.

Rooted in early computer-aided design (CAD) and manufacturing applications, design and construction software is firmly at the helm of most shipyards today, enabling the production of  better designed, more efficient and consistently built ships produced with measurably less waste: less waste of time, materials, man hours and most important, money. The ROI can be substantial, and is traceable throughout the entire process, across all sub sectors such as project management, purchasing, materials, labor and build sequencing.

The Executive Control Board of the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) has selected four major research and development projects for award, as part of the program's continuing mission to reduce costs associated with U. S. shipbuilding and ship repair. Objective: Expanding upon the successfully completed Remote Climbing Robot and the current Mobile Robotic Manufacturing System, the objective of this project is to develop and demonstrate a High Mobility Manufacturing Robot capable of operating in ship compartments. Provide Design for Maintenance Training to U.S. Bollinger Shipyards |  Electric Boat | BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards | Marinette Marine | Hepinstall Consulting Group | Victoria Dlugokecki, P.E..

FORAN has been the CAD/CAM System used by the Chilean shipyard ASMAR in the development of an Oceanographic and Fisheries Research Vessel, a state of the art design built for worldwide oceanographic and fishing service and geological research. The vessel, Cabo de Hornos, has been already delivered. With a length overall of 74.1 m, breadth molded of 15.6 m and depth to main deck of 8.5 m, the vessel can reach a speed of 14.3 knots, with accommodation for 68 persons. The vessel has been classified by Germanischer Lloyd, CLASS +100 A5 E +MC AUT E Oceanographic Research Vessel.

Having detailed instructions for each shipbuilding task and precise sequencing of the workflow is creating efficiencies and reducing rework at shipyards on the east and west coasts of the US. The work packs that Senesco Marine’s tradesmen are working from provide instructions—including checks and balances and dimensions—for each step of the process. “The person cutting the angles to go on panels has a cut sheet with instructions on how to cut every angle,” explains Joe Bush, VP Operations at Senseco Marine in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

FORAN in the new jack-up barge crane built in Drydocks World - Dubai. FORAN has been the CAD/CAM used by Drydocks World - Dubai in the development of the engineering of the new jack-up barge crane, called SEP – SAMRAT. Drydocks World - Dubai, the flagship company from the Dubai World Corporation, is about to complete the production documentation and construction of the new vessel for specific offshore building duties. The vessel is a non-propelled self-elevating platform, with a total lifting capacity of almost 2,950 tons, through the help of four legs and the corresponding jacking system.

The recent growth of the Brazilian shipbuilding industry, with the construction of more than 20 new shipyards and efforts to modernize older shipyards, has highlighted the need for more efficient ship design and construction methods. With the increased reliance on production line automation, ship design software has become even more important. Maritime Reporter and Engineering News spoke with Mr. Bruno França,CEO of  Brazilian IT company Sincronia and ShipConstructor representative in Brazil, about the relevance of CAD based ship design software in the new Brazilian shipbuilding industry. Please tell us a little about yourself and your company (Sincronia)? My name if Bruno França, I am CEO of Sincronia.

Deltamarin has signed an agreement with Nantong Mingde Heavy Industry about the design of totally seven new Equinox Class Self Unloading and Gearless Bulk Carriers to be built for Algoma Central Corporation and the Canadian Wheat Board. Deltamarin will take care of the Basic and Detail design of the vessels as well as Procurement support. The vessels are derivatives of Deltamarin’s B.delta standard bulker designs, which have piqued the interest of the market with their improved cubic capacity and lower fuel consumption compared to competing designs.

Deltamarin has signed an agreement with Chengxi Shipyard Co., LTD about the design of a SUL (Self Unloading) Panamax Bulk Carrier to be built for CSL International Inc. Deltamarin will take care of the basic and detail design of the vessel as well as the procurement support. The vessel is a derivative of Deltamarin’s revolutionary B.delta standard bulker designs with improved cubic capacity and markedly lower fuel consumption compared to competing designs. The ship concept for this new generation of SUL bulk carriers has been created by Deltamarin for CSL International previously. The good cooperation between the ship owner and Deltamarin resulted in many improvements to current designs of SUL bulk carriers.

The latest release of ShipConstructor, a 3D CAD/CAM software toolset for the shipbuilding and offshore industries, is specifically targeted for use on large-scale projects. ShipConstructor 2009 is compatible with AutoCAD 2009 and includes numerous enhancements designed to increase efficiency when working with complex 3D product models as well as features aimed at reducing production costs. ShipConstructor 2009 will allow 64-bit capability on the Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows 7 platforms. This added capability will allow modellers to load larger portions of the 3D model into a single working session at a greater level of detail with increased program stability. Another enhancement is significant improvements involving the creation of 3D Virtual Reality (VR) models.

Enrollment is now open for the online Applications of Modern Shipbuilding Design (AMSD) course offered by the University of Wisconsin – Marinette. This 60 hour, online course will be offered February 8 thru April 30, 2010. The course offers training in a new career in the shipbuilding industry, or an opportunity to increase your current 3D AutoCAD design skills as you learn the basics of ship design using ShipConstructor Software, a 3D product modeling and production planning tool. The online AMSD course is delivered asynchronously, so it can be accessed at anytime from anywhere in the world. No software purchase is necessary, as ShipConstructor Software is accessed remotely through UW-Marinette. Students need only high speed internet access.

ShipConstructor Software Inc. (SSI) announced the release of the R4 version of ShipConstructor 2008, an AutoCAD-based ship production design software. In addition to many production-focused improvements, the new version includes an enhanced user environment thanks to AutoCAD 2009 compatibility. “We have introduced changes in key areas including pipe spool drawings, pipe bending output, and production output display options. The new Weld Catalog is a precursor to the ShipConstructor Weld module to be released in Quarter 2 of 2009…

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.