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Despite the conventional wisdom that it is diffi cult for shipyards to support more than one design and construc- tion package, given what some say are signifi cant capital and training investments involved in switching CAD plat- forms, Malabet is unfazed, and unconvinced. “We get all types of clients with all kinds of designs and preferences.

We do not dictate to the client how to do what he wants.

We accommodate our process to their requirement. We’re here to please and follow specifi cations,” he said.

Of course, its fi rst FORAN project, the multi-purpose vessels, involved new designs and hence Eastern didn’t mi- grate. It paired new people with the new designs and new software with some integration help from three Sener per- sonnel on site at Eastern. “ShipConstructor is very U.S.-based. The reason many yards here use it is because you have a lot of modelers trained in ShipConstructor – and none in FORAN. I was lucky to fi nd some people trained in software similar to

FORAN so their change to FORAN was much easier than from ShipConstructor to FORAN,” says Malabet.

The two products are not compatible with each other, but Eastern has had no library issues. It has created paral- lel parts and pieces in libraries for both software packages. “It’s fully operational on both.” Malabet says it took a cou- ple of people 30-45 days to create the libraries, something that is done for each specifi c vessel due to different types of equipment, material, fi ttings and the end cuts of stiffners.

FORAN Garners High Marks “We have been assessing FORAN as we go along, and so far, so good, “says Malabet. Among the benefi ts he ticked off so far attributed to FORAN: A single database is used – All disciplines – structure, piping, electrical etc. – work from the same database, which means anything any of the disciplines do, the others know about. If a change would create interference, the process tells the user they can’t do that. “It prevents an online interference.

With ShipConstructor, you have to stop and do an interfer- ence check. With FORAN it’s automatic, right in front of your nose.” Malabet also noted the FORAN database resides on the server and “anyone we authorize, can work on that database, which was not possible in Ship Constructor until a year ago.

It’s a big advantage.” A topological drafting tool, which means all parts are as- sociated with each other, so when you make a change on one of them - for example, move a bulkhead - all related parts auto- matically move with it. “This is one of the biggest advantages in a modeling tool. ShipConstructor does not have this that I know of, but they may be working on it.” Quantifi able ROI – Malabet says his modelers say “that modeling time has been reduced signifi cantly from ShipCon- structor to FORAN; it’s a lot less man hours.” “The only thing we are having an issue with is the out- put, what we give the yard to build.” The issue? Translating between the metric and American system of measurement (United States customary units). “In 15 years, I have built only one metric vessel, which was designed for China.”

Regardless of how well FORAN continue to prove itself,

Malabet expects that Ship Constructor either has or will shortly catch up to FORAN in some of these areas, either in its latest release or a future one. Regardless, he sees a role for both products at Eastern going forward.

At the end of the day, what shipyards look for is cost and capitalization versus ROI, says Carnevale. “If they can be shown that a product is easier to use, is less prone to error and more effi cient, so that they will get their ROI for capi- tal investment and training, shipyards will consider going to a new product.”

CAD/CAM SOFTWARE

Eastern Shipbuilding Signs Up for FORAN. From the right:

Verónica Alonso, SENER North America Area Manager; Kenneth

R. Munroe, Eastern Shipbuilding Executive Vice President and

Chief Operating Offi cer; Rodrigo Pérez, SENER Project www.marinelink.com MN 27

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