Page 50: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 2000)
Read this page in Pdf, Flash or Html5 edition of December 2000 Maritime Reporter Magazine
CAD/CAM Report
Is 3-D Product Modeling Practical For Small U.S. Shipyards?
Over the past 30 years, computer-aided ship design and construction has progressed from mainframe com- puters to PCs, from independent programs to fully integrated programs, and from large shipyards to all sizes of shipyards. More to the point, key advances during the past several years have made 3-D product modeling a tool that can significantly improve small yard efficiency, quality, and profit. However, 3-D product modeling can do these things only if imple- mented in a planned and well thought-out manner, tai- lored to the specific yard. 3-D product modeling, when combined with other innovations such as NC production equipment and the workstation approach to production, can make a small shipyard remarkably more competitive than when using traditional methods for new ship construction and major conversions.
Small shipyards, at least those in the U.S. today, are typically faced with tough competition and a shrinking market. In addition, those yards serving the petroleum industry face a cyclical market that wreaks havoc with attempts at maintaining a consistent workload and staff stability.
These yards often use traditional design, engineer- ing, and lofting techniques, though some computer-
Table 1
Characteristics of Three Example Small Shipyards
Yard
Astilleros de Murueta
Astilleros Zamakona
Construcciones Navales P. Freire
Crane
Capacity 40, 30, 30 15, 15,8, 60 110, 45,20
Employees # Ships
Bit. 10 Yrs 255 15 300 80+ 280 50+
Table 2
Upgrading to the 3-D Product Model System Modules and Date of Installation (FORAN CAD/CAE/CAM System)
Yard Fairing Steel Machinery and Outfitting
Astilleros de Murueta 1988 1988 1998
Astilleros Zamakona 1993 1993 1995
Construcciones Navales P. Freire 1989 1989 1994
Table 3
Improvements Resulting from Upgrading to 3-D Modeling (Coupled with Process and Facility Modernization) % SAVINGS
Yard *1 *2 *3 *4
Astilleros de Murueta 20 30
Astilleros Zamakona 25 35 25 30
Construcciones Navales P. Freire 25 35 30 50 *1 Materials Cost; *2 Production & Labor Cost; *3Construction Schedule; *4 Design Labor Hours aided design tools are entering the mainstream, as described in the following section. Traditional con- struction methods, notably stick building, are the norm. Construction expertise resides not in a comput- er database, but in the minds of senior foremen, lead- ermen, and craftsmen. When these people leave a shipyard, their corporate knowledge and shipbuilding expertise leave with them. These yards have small or non-existent internal research and development bud- gets. Their management and production personnel are wary of far-reaching innovations, which they perceive to hold risks of disrupting present practices and not delivering improvements to the yard.
Astilleros Zamakona is just one small shipyard, which reaped huge savings in materials, production and design hours by inte- grating a computerized 3-D modeling system.
Finally, small shipyards' time scales, for example, the time allocated to design, fabrication, or erection, is much shorter than those of the large yards. In these aforementioned yards, a change of several days may be of small consequence, but this may have a large impact
ANCHOR
LARGEST INVENTORY
OF NEW & USED
IN THE U.S.A. CHAINS
FAX: 713/644-1185
WATTS: 800/233-8014
PHONE: 713/644-1183
P.O. BOX 58645
HOUSTON, TX 77258
ALL TYPE
ANCHORS & CHAIN
ABS, LLOYDS
GRADE 2, 3, K-4
CHAIN & FITTINGS www.anchormarinehouston.com [email protected]
Circle 204 on Reader Service Card
STRONGER REPAIRS FASTER, EASIER
Unique epoxy resin system bonds to almost anything—produces proven, long lasting repairs with outstanding impact strength, tensile strength, and abrasion resistance. • Repairs everything from pinholes and ruptures to complete breaks in pipes, pumps, ducts, tanks, valves, flanges, joints, and machinery casings, including equipment carrying water, low-pressure steam, gases, gasoline, oil, alcohol, and caustics • Bonds tenaciously to most surfaces including steel, plastic, fiberglass composites, ceramic and wood
CORDOBOND f HIGH STRENGTH ,
REPAIR SYSTEM
STANDARD RESIN for small holes/cracks (large holes/cracks with reinforcement)
RED PUTTY for medium to large holes, cracks and other defects
STEEL PUTTY for steel-like repairs on metal— can be drilled, tapped, machined
SEALER for small holes and cracks
LEVELING COMPOUND for corroded surfaces
UNDERWATER PUTTY for repairs in dry, moist, or submerged conditions
For detailed literature contact:
Ferro Corporation
Liquid Coatings and Dispersions Division 1301 N. Flora St., Plymouth, IN 46563
Tel: 219-935-5131 • Fax: 219-935-5278
ISO 9002 ® FERRO
Circle 226 on Reader Service Card
Corpus Christi - Sept. 11th —
The Lift Boat GULF ISLAND V, a 3-legged jack-up, sank off Corpus Christi, Texas. The vessel sank in 100 feet of water on to her port side with half her deckhouse beneath the sea bed.
Response
After unsuccessful recovery attempts by others, Titan's salvage team removed the wreck and placed it on shore using the 500-ton sheerlegs Southern Hercules.
USA " P.O. Box 350465 • Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33335
Tel: 954-929-5200 • Fax: 954-929-0102
UK " New Road, Newhaven • East Sussex • BN90HE
Tel: ++44 (0) 1273 515-555 • Fax: ++44 (0)1273 515-456
TITAN
MARITIME INDUSTRIES, INC.
DAMAGE STABILITY • FIREFIGHTING • LIGHTERING • SALVAGE
BR " Rua Gen. Mena Barreto 708 Sao Paulo, Brasil
Tel: ++55 11 887 9217 • Fax: ++55 11 887 2687
Circle 267 on Reader Service Card