Page 38: of Marine News Magazine (April 2024)

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Tech File

Optimizing Blast and Paint Processes in New Construction Shipbuilding

By Colin Gallagher, Director of Shipyard Optimization, BlastOne International

The ef? cacy of surface preparation and coating appli- 1. Raw material entry cation in the new construction shipbuilding industry is 2. Painting the modules fundamentally anchored in a well-coordinated, integrated 3. Small parts approach. This intricate process, essential for achieving 4. Painting of erection joints at the module level top-tier corrosion control, is methodically segmented into 5. Final paint and ship’s completion. ? ve crucial stages: Each stage is crucial in its own right but achieves its full- est potential when seamlessly integrated into an overarch- ing process.

The shipyard: A symphony of collaboration

Imagine a shipyard as a football team, where the dis- parate execution of roles, along with precise timing and placement are paramount for a united victory. Just as dif- ferent football teams leverage their unique strengths to create an advantage to win games, shipyards must em- ploy unique strategies based on their resources and ca- pabilities to ef? ciently complete vessels. The vast differ- ences in facilities, such as pier space, crane capacities and out? tting areas underscores the necessity of a bespoke approach for maximizing ef? ciency in their respective blast and paint processes.

Navigating ship types and their unique challenges

The complexity within shipyards is magni? ed by the variety of vessels under construction, whether tankers or surface combatants, each presents its own set of intricate challenges. Tankers, for example, emphasize the through- put of steel and panel processing, while destroyers focus on electrical and mechanical systems, including combat sys- tems. These differences highlight the importance of a nu- anced understanding of each vessel type, enabling a more effective navigation through the ? ve major paint categories and ensuring a tailored, ef? cient construction process.

BlastOne International 38 | MN April 2024