Albacore Research Ltd News

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.

Scheduled for a September 2003 release, the next major revision of the 3-D product modeling software for shipbuilding and offshore platforms from Albacore Research Ltd., ShipConstructor2004, will include a full Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning module (HVAC). HVAC is a fully integrated member of the ShipConstructor suite of Structure, Automatic and Manual Nest, NC Code generation, Outfit, Pipe, Fairing, and Lofting tools. To facilitate automatic report generation, HVAC makes full use of ShipConstructor's SQL Server product database. As with all ShipConstructor modules, HVAC is a full 3-D modeling package; this reduces drafting errors and time-to-production. With ShipConstructor, HVAC ducts are full-featured AutoCAD entities.

Albacore Research Ltd. (ARL) and Australia’s Formation Design Systems (FDS) announced that FDS has become an official dealer of ShipConstructor, ARL’s 3D Product Modeling tool for ships and offshore structures of all sizes and complexities. Rolf G. Oetter, President of ARL, and Philip Christensen, Managing Director of FDS, say that this decision developed as a result of an already-established successful business relationship between the two companies. Mr Christensen explains, “Formation Design Systems currently supplies initial design software to a large number of naval architects and shipbuilders in the Asian and Australian regions.

To meet the requirements of the BoTruc project, Bollinger's design group chose ShipConstructor2004, the latest version of the 3-D product modeling software developed by Albacore Research Ltd (ARL), Canada. Bollinger has been using ShipConstructor for more than six years. For the near future, Bollinger plans to integrate the ShipConstructor SQL project database with other related business process databases, such as enterprise resource planning, purchasing, and accounting. Among the design demands of the BoTruc OSVs is the significant increase of cargo capacity. Bollinger's executive vice president of new construction, Danny Irby, noted that while the 180-ft vessels could carry 1…

Rolf G. Oetter, Founder and President of Albacore Research Ltd (ARL), and Dr. Oskar Lee announced the official launch of ARL Asia Pte Ltd (ARL Asia) as solutions provider and training and technical center for ARL’s ShipConstructor software in Asia. ShipConstructor is the powerful AutoCAD based 3D product-modeling software for the design and fabrication of ships and offshore structures. As Director of ARL Asia, Dr. Lee will provide CAD/CAM system integration in the Asia Pacific region for all ShipConstructor clients, with the aim to co-ordinate sales and technical support. To aid this effort, ARL Asia has enhanced its website (www.shipconstructor.com.sg) to provide full product, training and exhibit information for ShipConstructor’s Asia-based clients. “Under Dr.

Autoship Systems Corporation (ASC) has developed a complete CAD/CAM suite to meet the CAD/CAM needs in marine vessel design and construction, including two key programs in the CAD/CAM suite: Autostructure 3.0 and Production Manager 3.0. Autostructure and Production Manager are key components in the Autoship CAD/CAM suite, offering shipyards complete solutions in structural design, pre-construction drawing preparation and part nesting. Autostructure is used to create a 3D model of a vessel structure and to output the parts of that model in CAD format. The CAD representation can be used either to prepare construction drawings or for input to NC cutting processors.

The long-awaited awarding of the contract to construct the new series of Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), a series that could total 60 ships worth $14 billion over 15 years, will have to wait just a little longer. However, the U.S. Navy in late May did pare the competition to two, with teams headed by General Dynamics - Bath Iron Works and Lockheed Martin Corporation - Maritime Systems & Sensors tapped to continue construction plans. LCS has generated fierce competition among the few remaining, large corporate entities that dominate the military markets today. While General Dynamics ($78,798,188) and Lockheed Martin Corporation — Maritime Systems & Sensors ($46…

Albacore Research Ltd. (ARL) announced the signing of Vinashin Engineering and Technology Joint Stock Company (Vinashin E&T) as the dealer for its flagship ShipConstructor software product for the Vietnam market. Under this agreement, Vinashin E&T will be the sales, support and training contact for ShipConstructor in Vietnam. ShipConstructor is the easy-to-use, AutoCAD-based 3D product-modeling software for the design and fabrication of complete ships and offshore structures. “After testing ShipConstructor throughout our entire company, we were so impressed that we approached ARL about becoming a dealer,” said Mr. Nguyen Duy Hung, Director of Vinashin E&T.

One of the most important improvements in ship production has been the introduction of CAD/CAM. The initial use of computers for drafting, lofting and automation of steel cutting has been extended from the design office and the mold loft throughout the shipyard and beyond by integrating the Internet, sophisticated database applications and enterprise management software to radically improve the entire shipbuilding process. However, the result of this, the Integrated Ship Product Model, is poised to revolutionize ship management and maintenance throughout its lifecycle. Boats and ships differ from most other objects because they are formed of arbitrary curved surfaces instead of well-defined assemblies of geometric shapes.

The advent of software solutions has infiltrated nearly every sector of the maritime market - from propulsion performance monitoring packages to personnel. It arguably has had no greater impact, though, than in the design and construction of new vessels. CAD/CAM/CAE programs are invaluable assets to the designer, builder and operator of vessels of all sizes and dimensions. Not only do advanced programs allow for the creation of the an efficient and cost effective ship structure and outfitting, they provide for enhanced manufacturing practices and techniques, and increasingly help devise a life-cycle maintenance and care plan which can tack profitable years onto a vessel's life.

Developments in shipbuilding have been driven by needs to simplify the engineering and manufacturing. The cause is not just to become more competitive but also to avoid problems in controlling engineering and manufacturing costs. Two recent examples carried out with ShipConstructor include a small 7.5-m aluminum police boat and a 120-m car/truck/pax mono-hull fast ferry. Both vessels have been 3-D modeled using the same ShipConstructor software, which can be scaled to be a price efficient solution for small and large vessels at the same time. The software maintains the same functionality. The reduced cost version is only limited in the maximum number of parts in the project.

Albacore Research Ltd. (ARL) announced the introduction of ShipConstructor into the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Systems Design three-year diploma programs at the Fisheries & Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland (MI) in St. John’s, Canada. ShipConstructor is the easy-to-use, AutoCAD-based 3D product-modeling software for the design and fabrication of complete ships and offshore structures. Akin to the University of New Orleans’ implementation of ShipConstructor for an industry-focused approach to education, even more students will now have a working knowledge of ShipConstructor upon graduation, a significant advantage when entering the job market.

The development of key features in ShipConstructor will be funded by the Second-Tier Shipyard Design Enhancement Project II, which recently received significant funding from the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) Advanced Shipbuilding Enterprise. The project, 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. The overall goal of the project is to provide U.S. second-tier shipyards with a state-of-the-art design system that will enhance their global competitiveness. Albacore Research Ltd. (ARL) will extend ShipConstructor’s capabilities to fully meet the design requirements of the U.S. second-tier shipyard industry.

Albacore Research Ltd. (ARL), announced ShipConstructor's support for AutoCAD(R) 2006 next generation design software from Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK), the world's leading software and services company for the building, manufacturing, infrastructure, digital media and wireless data services fields. AutoCAD 2006 software allows users to create, manage and share design information faster, to compete and win. ShipConstructor2005 is fully compatible with AutoCAD 2006. The new features offered by the latest release of AutoCAD will significantly improve the productivity of ShipConstructor users. ShipConstructor is the 3D product modeling and Product Data Management (PDM) system for the design and fabrication of ships and offshore structures…

Since releasing the 2005 version of ShipConstructor, an AutoCAD-based 3D product modeling software for shipyards and designers, Albacore Research Ltd. (ARL) has been working with customers to introduce more time- and cost-saving features. In collaboration with Japanese and Australian shipbuilders, two new features, Accuracy Control Marks and Automatic Straking, are offered. Small inaccuracies easily add up to significant deviations during multiple steps of assembly. Precise fabrication is a means of reducing rework, delays, and waste. In Japan, Accuracy Control Marks are used for two tasks: aligning stiffeners with high accuracy on plates as well as the accurate joining of plates for welding. This feature is now available through the latest update of ShipConstructor2005.

Albacore Research Ltd. (ARL) is putting the final touches on its new ShipConstructor 2006, scheduled for release towards the end of 2005. According the software developer, ShipConstructor 2006 represents a quantum leap in CAD/CAM with the introduction of the Database Driven Relational Object Model (DDROM) technology, as well as an Application Programming Interface (API). While DDROM will provide ShipConstructor users with a ‘better-than-parametric’ technology, the API will make it easier for users and third-party developers to tie into the ShipConstructor product model database. DDROM and other new features will be presented at the SNAME Annual Meeting in Houston – at the booth as well as during the Innovation Sessions.

Developments in boatbuilding have been driven by needs to simplify the engineering and manufacturing components. One desired effect is, of course, to become more competitive; one can look ? for example ? at the fast ferry industry, which in some instances has had significant problems in controlling engineering and manufacturing costs. Rolf Oetter has developed shipbuilding software for more than a decade. Through his international contacts with shipyards and designers, he has gained insight into many different ship productions procedures. Rolf Bjornert has used aluminum as a construction material and developed and built a number of smaller hulls, some of them with rather complex shapes.

Albacore Research Ltd. (ARL), the creator of the 3D product modeling software ShipConstructor™ and Industrial Planning Technology, Inc. (IPT) are cooperating on the development of a translator that will enable ShipConstructor to import and export STEP files containing pipe, HVAC, and equipment data. This technology will significantly enhance ShipConstructor’s interoperability in large shipyard environments, allow organizations to more easily access legacy data, and simplify the long term storage and retrieval of archival product model data throughout the entire product lifecycle. IPT is developing the translators using the all-new ShipConstructor Application Programming Interface (API) creating intelligent distributed system objects directly in the ShipConstructor Product Model Database.