ClassNK Releases New Hull Design Software

ClassNK announced the release of a new version of its PrimeShip-HULL (HCSR) ship design support software. In addition to a variety of new features, the new version includes in the new second draft of the IACS Harmonized Common Structural Rules, or H-CSR, for bulk carriers and oil tankers released on April 1, 2013.

Initially released in July 2012, ClassNK’s PrimeShip-HULL (HCSR) was the world’s first design support software to incorporate the requirements of the new IACS Harmonized Common Structural Rules, and is already used by shipyards and designers in China, Korea and Japan. The new version of the software not only incorporates the latest changes and amendments found in the second draft of H-CSR, but also features a number of new and improved functions to help ship designers evaluate and implement the new standards.

The new version includes new features to easily interface with and export HCSR calculations to commercial CAD software, among other features designed to greatly reduce the amount of time necessary to carry out the direct strength calculations of all the vessel’s cargo holds as required by the H-CSR. This latest version also incorporates the FEM Pre- and Post-processer from Altair Engineering’s HyperWorks software, Computer Assisted Engineering (CAE) software which is used in the aerospace and automotive industries due to its high-performance meshing functions as well as its solver and construction optimization functions.

This new version of PrimeShip-HULL (HCSR) also boasts enhanced modeling functions to simplify the creation of detailed hull construction models, as well as more efficiently carry out rule calculations for not only the central section, but also the bow and aft portions of the vessel. New tools to automatically generate evaluation reports and other improvements to support functions have also been included to improve usability.