Page 56: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2026)

SHIPYARD TOOLS • Look for software that reduces tions exist as a result of advances in 3D scanning, laser, IR bevel angles, lets you balance speed vs bevel (thermal pro? le), and camera technology combined with the minimization and improves hole cylindricity. computational power of advanced microprocessors and AI- driven analytics. Robot-friendly solutions are an order of mag-

PITFALL 7: Not Looking at the Whole System nitude faster, many times more accurate and connect to QC

Some yards blame poor cutting table utilization rate (e.g., programs. Shipyard CWIs should consider inspection tools that about 30%) on the table manufacturer. The reality is that they use vision systems to con? rm joint preparation and validate could achieve 65-70% if they focused on the entire process, in- weld dimensions. There are hand-held devices that work faster cluding material handling, nesting to avoid tilt-ups that cause than traditional gages and digitize data (including an image) crashes, marking, clean-up, changing consumables, preventive for importing into records. And rather than manually assem- maintenance schedules and operator training for all of it. bling records, consider software that automates QC document management and enables traceability. Software tools exist that

PITFALL 8: Weak Plate Traceability can identify the details of every weld seam in minutes.

Use durable barcode and marking options, including la- ser marking, if other options fade or don’t enable precision. PITFALL 10: Accepting Distortion

Given the hours forklift drivers spend hunting for plates in For welding the main deck and wall side plates, which ranged laydown yards, much less limited (or no) ability to track rem- from 3/8- to 1-in.-thick, one Gulf coast shipyard faced produc- nants, automating identi? cation and traceability can produce tivity issues with its old SAW technology. The plate would warp big gains in plate management alone. as soon as the hold-down bed magnets were released due to high heat input. So that the deck plate wouldn’t look like a potato

PITFALL 9: Relying on Traditional Solutions chip when presented to the sti? ener welding station, the shipyard

For both seam tracking and weld inspection, advanced solu- placed multiple 10-ton concrete weights on the plate immediate-

PITFALL 10: Many yards accept warping when then don’t have to. New SAW process reduce heat input to

PITFALL 11: mitigate warping while also increasing deposition rate

RFID technology and weld quality. links operators and machines to weld seams for improve traceability, plus it can ensure only quali? ed operators weld on a joint.

PITFALL 16:

Don’t collect data because you can.

Rather, focus on metrics that lead to actionable intelligence.

PITFALL 12: Of? ine robot programming (OLRP) functions in a virtual, of? ine environment to maxi- mize robotic uptime.

56 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • August 2026

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