Showing papers on "Shipbuilding published in 2006"

Why Has the Cost of Navy Ships Risen?: A Macroscopic Examination of the Trends in U.S. Naval Ship Costs Over the Past Several Decades

Abstract: Over the past several decades, increases in acquisition costs for U.S. Navy combatants have outpaced the rate of inflation. To understand why, the authors of this book examined two principal source categories of ship cost escalation (economy-driven factors and customer-driven factors) and interviewed various shipbuilders. Based on their analysis, the authors propose some ways the Navy might reduce ship costs in the future.

The Philosophy of Shipbuilding: Conceptual Approaches to the Study of Wooden Ships (review)

Abstract: caused by clashing armies at battle time, it is less successful at analyzing and assessing the larger residual effects that war making had on American society. Had nothing changed as a result of the war? Did the disruptions caused by battle encourage military and business leaders to redouble their efforts to control the uncontrollable? How did labor respond? Did battle time have any impact on how war was managed or how society was organized afterward? In his four-volume classic, The War for the Union (1959–71), Allan Nevins describes how the conflict went from being an improvised war to an organized war while arguing that “the transition from one to the other was a transition from the old America to the new, and not in material terms alone but in psychological terms also” (Nevins 3:331). Yet Wells is curiously silent on these issues. Civil War Time is well worth reading. It provides a fresh perspective on America’s bloodiest conflict. That said, it remains to be seen how battletime experiences influenced peacetime pursuits in postwar America.

Ships and Science: The Birth of Naval Architecture in the Scientific Revolution, 1600-1800

Abstract: "Naval architecture was born in the mountains of Peru, in the mind of a French astronomer named Pierre Bouguer who never built a ship in his life." So writes Larrie Ferreiro at the beginning of this pioneering work on the science of naval architecture. Bouguer's monumental book Traite du navire (Treatise of the Ship) founded a discipline that defined not the rules for building a ship but the theories and tools to predict a ship's characteristics and performance before it was built. In Ships and Science, Ferreiro argues that the birth of naval architecture formed an integral part of the Scientific Revolution. Using Bouguer's work as a cornerstone, Ferreiro traces the intriguing and often unexpected development of this new discipline and describes its practical application to ship design in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Drawing on previously untapped primary-source and archival information, he places the development of naval architecture in the contexts of science, navy, and society, across the major shipbuilding nations of Britain, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, and Italy. Ferreiro describes the formulation of the three major elements of ship theory (the science of explaining the physical behavior of a ship): maneuvering and sail theory, ship resistance and hydrodynamics, and stability theory. He considers the era's influential books on naval architecture and describes the professionalization of ship constructors that is the true legacy of this period. Finally, looking from the viewpoints of both the constructor and the naval administrator, he explains why the development of ship theory was encouraged, financed, and used in naval shipbuilding. A generous selection of rarely seen archival images accompanies the text.

Estimation of ship construction costs

Abstract: Thesis (S.M. in Ocean Systems Management)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2006.

Simulation-Based Performance Improvement for Shipbuilding Processes

Abstract: Shipowners, shipbuilders, the US Navy, and others have a need to evaluate (1) current shipbuilding performance, and (2) projected future performance under a variety of possible technical and managerial scenarios, for the purpose of supporting acquisition and policy decisions, shipyard planning, improvement in shipbuilding processes, new technology insertion and/or development, and capital investment. This need is not restricted to the US shipbuilding environment; it is an important concern even in large, commercially competitive overseas shipyards. In recent years, in various attempts to address the problem, different types of simulation modeling approaches have been investigated by a number of research teams. However, due to the nature of the shipbuilding process, the goal of performing realistic, credible analyses remains elusive. This paper reports on the results of an ongoing international project being conducted by the University of Michigan and Seoul National University. In this project, there are two key emphases: (1) researching and developing improved modeling and/or decision analysis approaches, and (2) rigorous validation of theoretical approaches and models through the use of actual, internationally competitive shipyard production data. Key accomplishments toward these objectives have been made and are reviewed and discussed in this paper.

Industrializing American Shipbuilding: The Transformation of Ship Design and Construction, 1820-1920

Abstract: Throughout the 19th century, the shipbuilding industry in America was both art and craft, one based on tradition, instinct, hand tools, and handmade ship models. Even as mechanization was introduced, the trade supported a system of apprenticeship, master builders, and family dynasties, and aesthetics remained the basis for design. Spanning the transition from wood to iron shipbuilding in America, Thiesen's history tells how practical and nontheoretical methods of shipbuilding began to be discarded by the 1880s in favor of technical and scientific methods. Perceiving that British warships were superior to its own, the United States Navy set out to adopt British design principles and methods. American shipbuilders wanted only to build better warships, but embracing British practices exposed them to new methods and technologies that aided in the transformation of American shipbuilding into an engineering-based industry. American shipbuilders soon improvised ways to turn U.S. shipyards into state-of-the-art facilities and, by the early 20th century, they forged ahead of the British in construction and production methods. The history of shipbuilding in America is a story of culture dictating technology. Thiesen describes the trans-Atlantic exchange of technical information that took place during this era and the role of the U.S. Navy in that transfer. He also profiles the lives of individual shipbuilders. Their stories will inspire enthusiasts of ships, shipbuilding, and shipbuilding technology, as well as historians and students of maritime history and the history of technology.

Simulation-based ship production using three-dimensional CAD

Abstract: The application of three-dimensional computer-aided design (CAD) is becoming more popular for design and production in many industrial fields, and digital manufacturing is spreading. With preconstruction simulation of the production process using a three-dimensional digital model, which is a core of a computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) system, the efficiency and safety of production can be improved at each stage of work and optimization of manufacturing can be achieved. This paper first describes the concept of simulation-based production in shipbuilding and digital manufacturing. The three-dimensional CAD system is indispensable for effective simulation because the ship structure is three-dimensionally complex, and three-dimensional viewer software enables workers to examine structures on a computer display. With simulation, computer-optimized manufacturing is possible. Simulation is most effective for jobs in which many parties must cooperate to handle structures or equipment of complex shape. Two-dimensional drawings are inadequate for imaging whole figures in such cases. Some examples of the successful applications in IHI Marine United, Inc., are shown: erection of a complex hull block, scaffolding planning, and installation of a rudder.

Technology of half ship building berth construction launch and dock floating assembling

Abstract: The present invention relates to a half-ship building berth construction launching and in-dock floating closure process. Said process adopts the following measures: constructing a part of ship body on building berth suitable for a part of ship body tonnage or H3 building berth, launching said part of ship body and making its be floated into large dock suitable for whole ship tonnage and fallen on blocks, making in-dock closure operation with another large part of ship body, then making whole body assembly and welding and undocking whole ship.

Environment-Based Strategic Management Model for Indonesia’s Medium-Sized Shipyards

Abstract: Since the nature of the shipyard differs from general industry, a shipyard strategy formulation model has been developed based on its own business characteristics. This paper presents a proposed environment-based strategy formulation model for medium-sized shipyards. A questionnaire survey of the industry's stakeholders was carried out to identify the internal and external strategic factors of the shipyard's businesses. By using multivariate factor analysis, the strategic factors were identified in both new building and ship repair. The results were then used to develop business environment submodels and a shipyard business matrix. These industry-based models were integrated into a shipyard strategy formulation model called YARDSTRAT. Its application and evaluation in two shipyards show that the proposed model could produce more comprehensive strategic options to sustainable competitive advantage for the companies.

Welding Robot Applications in Shipbuilding Industry: Off-Line Programming, Virtual Reality Simulation, and Open Architecture

Abstract: The shipbuilding industry is steadily advancing by introducing robots to its work fields for increases in productivity and improvements in working conditions (Nagao et al, 2000). However, the shipbuilding company still faces with the worker’s health problem, an increase of aging workers, a shortage of skilled workers, and environmental protection related issues. Therefore, advanced robotic manipulator is still required to overcome these problems. And, how to apply commercial robotic system properly to meet the production purpose in the shipyard is a key research topic for shipbuilding engineers. The shipbuilding process is mainly divided into design, cutting, welding, assembling, grinding, blinding, and painting process. Among these manufacturing processes, welding is the most crucial, expensive, and time-consuming process. For that reason, welding robot applications have yielded a big productivity improvement in hull assembly welding and have reduced work-related musculoskeletal disorders of workers. In this chapter, the results of our work in the development of a welding robot system and a PC-based off-line programming for welding robot application on assembly lines in shipbuilding are explained. Also, a methodology of implementing PC-based off-line programming on users PC is presented. The off-line programming is a system that comprises robot’s simulation, robot programming, and other functions such as monitoring, scheduling, etc, that makes users operate robot system easily. The off-line programming is essential for welding robot system in shipyard to prepare robot program and then to shorten production time. Currently, the operation of industrial robots is through either on-line teaching or off-line programming (Choi & Lee, 2003; Carvalho et al., 1998; Craig, 1986;). On-line teaching is, by definition, a technique of generating robot programs using a real robot system, whereas offline programming is a method using simulations that are set up in advance. On-line teaching may be suitable for jobs for which a robot only needs to repeat a monotonous motion using one pre-written program that applies to identical sizes or objects. But, in such work places as shipbuilding, where the shape and size of workpiece are various (i.e., there are more than 1200 different shapes of workpieces for grand-assembly, if we account the size of these different shaped workpiece, we may not count the different kind of workpieces. Moreover, the new shape of workpiece is still increasing according to the ship specification

Simulation And Optimization Of A Shipbuilding Workshop

Abstract: This study concerns the simulation of a shipbuilding workshop, and its optimization to improve its productivity. Usually, simulation is used to improve efficiency but this optimization is often done manually, particularly for shipbuilding workshop. This is due to the particularity of pieces to be manufactured: almost each of them is different and required thus particular operations. The automation is not so much present as, for example, in automotive industry. In spite of high CPU time for that kind of simulation, we will try to use optimization methods to improve productivity. Algorithm used is a genetic algorithm.

Steel stock management on the stockyard operations in shipbuilding: a case of Hyundai Heavy Industries

Abstract: As the largest shipbuilding company in the world and the leader in the Korean merchant shipbuilding industry, Hyundai Heavy Industries is currently struggling to carry out intensive productivity improvements. These are needed in order to be the global merchant shipbuilding market leader by surpassing the competition from Japan and the threat from China armed with very cheap labour costs. This paper introduces the academy and industry collaborative project, part of the productivity improvement efforts conducted on the steel stockyard operations. As a pilot project it researched a way of improving the stockyard operations and future projects on the stockyard operations. The project defined the stockyard operations, measured current situations, and analysed operational difficulties. In addition, the project developed the steel stockyard operations simulator. Besides the simulator used by the operations manager, who has relied heavily on his work-experienced intuition when making decisions, this paper expects...

A Case Study on Assembly Block Operations Management at Shipyard

Abstract: How to efficiently manage assembly blocks at shipyard has been a hot management issue in the shipbuilding Industry, because it has significantly influenced on the productivity of shipbuilding process. This paper introduces the real practice of assembly block operations management in Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and the Ship Assembly Block Operations Optimization (SABOO) project that h3s been launched in HHI as an academy-and-industry collaborative project, aimed to diagnose problems, propose possible solutions, and develop a prototype system in order to search ways of improving the assembly block operations management. Through the field interviews, observations, and benchmarking studies, the SABOO project diagnosed the most rudimental and urgent problem and proposed possible solutions. In addition, the SABOO project developed the prototype system that embodied the visual function of monitoring the shipyard on a real-time and the Interactive block assignment function that utilized the assembly block assignment algorithm developed by the project. As a whole, the SABOO project tested the possibility and gained an insight in extending the functions of block transportation/stockyard management system.

Development of a 3D CAD system for modeling hull structure at the initial ship design stage

Abstract: At the initial process planning and scheduling stages of shipbuilding, production material information of a building block is manually calculated by using two-dimensional drawings, data of parent ships, and designers' experiences. Thus, the accuracy of the calculated information is low. To provide precise information for the initial process planning and scheduling stages, a three-dimensional computer-aided design model of the hull structure is required at the initial design stage. In this study, a 3D computer-aided design system for modeling hull structure supporting the initial stage of ship design was developed. The applicability of the system was verified through its application to various ships. As a result, it was shown that the developed system can efficiently generate the three-dimensional computer-aided design model and production material information through rapid modeling at the initial design stage.

Simulation Modeling Methodology and Simulation System Architecture for Shipbuilding Processes

Abstract: For several years, a research about the simulation for shipyard and shipbuilding has been performed. This research is based on the concept of PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) and DM (Digital Manufacturing). Global leading companies and research center are trying to get a good position of PLM, especially M&S field. Digital shipbuilding is to computerize shipyard facilities and shipbuilding processes, and to simulate expected scenarios of shipbuilding processes using a computer model in order to resolve a potential problem such as a bottleneck processes, and over loaded resources. In this paper, simulation methodology for shipbuilding is described. In addition, a local and global strategy for the use of simulation methodology is suggested. Finally, case studies about an indoor shop and an outdoor shop are described.

Simulation Based Production Using 3-D CAD in Shipbuilding

Abstract: The application of three-dimensional (3-D) CAD has been popularized for design and production and digital manufacturing has been spreading in many industrial fields. By simulation of the production process using 3-D digital models, which are the core of CIM (Computer Integrated Manufacturing) system, the efficiency and safety of production are improved at each stage of work, and optimization of manufacturing can be achieved. This paper firstly describes the concept of "simulation based production" in shipbuilding and also digital manufacturing; the 3-D CAD system is indispensable for effective simulation because ship structure is three dimensionally complex. By simulation, "computer optimized manufacturing" can be possible. The most effective fields of simulation in shipbuilding are in jobs where many parties have to cooperate, while existing two-dimensional drawings are hardly observed the whole structures due to interference between structures or equipment of complex shape. In this paper some examples of the successful application in IHIMU (IHI Marine United Inc.) are shown: assembly of a pipe unit, erection of a complex hull block, carriage of equipment, installation of a propeller, and access in an engine room.

Insulated Bus Pipe (IBP) for Shipboard Application

Abstract: The commercial shipbuilding industry and the U.S. Navy have decreed that the aim of the "all electric ship" power system design is for survivability and continuity of electrical power supply. In general, ship service electric power and electric propulsion power requirements are approaching hundreds of megawatts. There are major challenges to the use of standard cable at medium voltage levels onboard due to cable stiffness, and cable bend radius requirements for distributing very high current around the ship. This paper examines the practical design and installation benefits associated with IBP as a possible alternative to shipboard electric power cable. Although IBP is widely used in the utility industry, the shipboard use of IBP is limited to several passenger cruise ships. No military shipboard installations have been performed to date. This paper examines the methodology of using IBP on shipboard applications and recommends procedures to follow at the preliminary concept phase of ship design. This paper recommends that the proven IBP prototypes and their models be the procurement specifications. The paper also recommends: inclusion of IBP application recommended practices in shipbuilding standards such as IEEE-45 and IEEE-1580; and inclusion of IBP in ABS rules for commercial ships, ABS NVR for naval vessels, and other national and international shipbuilding rules and regulations

Fatigue Crack Growth Assessment of Welded Joints in Ships Structures: A Reliability-Based Sensitivity Study

Abstract: Fatigue life calculations have been recently introduced as explicit checks in classification societies rules for shipbuilding. Such checks are based on the classic S-N approach, which cannot be easily applied to the condition assessment of structural details. Fracture mechanics approach allows describing the structural degradation of ageing structures and the reliability framework accounts for the inherent probabilistic aspects of fatigue. This approach gains relevance as many ship tankers are being converted to operate as offshore ships. This paper carries out a sensitivity analysis of the reliability model for fatigue life calculations of typical ship’s welded joints based on fracture mechanics, aiming to select the most influencing parameters, before and after inspection updating.© 2006 ASME

A method for shipbuilding on the ground and launching ships using a skid launching system

Abstract: Provided is a method for building a ship on the ground and launching a ship using a skid launching system. The method includes dividing the ship into two through four sections and semi-assembling the divided sections into hull blocks in a hull block assembly yard on the ground, fixing a barge at a quay wall adjacent to the hull block assembly yard in a longitudinal direction, transporting the semi-assembled hull blocks to the barge in a longitudinal direction, completing a hull by assembling the semi-assembled hull blocks on the barge, moving the barge to a launching point and sinking the barge through ballasting, and launching the built ship and floating the barge. Therefore, large-scale ships can be constructed without a dry dock facility while improving the efficiency of shipbuilding.

The Philosophy of Shipbuilding: Conceptual Approaches to the Study of Wooden Ships ‐ By FREDERICK M. HOCKER and CHERYL A. WARD

Abstract: that the ancient names defrutum, sapa and caroenum (which often appear as painted labels on Haltern 70 amphoras) all correspond to a single substance, known in Spanish as arrope and in English as ‘boiled must’. Both Roman authors and modern winemakers prescribe the reduction by boiling of freshly-pressed grape-must to provide an additive which in certain circumstances can be used to improve a vintage. The resultant juice also provides a medium in which fruit can be ‘bottled’ for transportation (as found in the well-known example of the olives found in the Thames Estuary, or in amphora inscriptions from Continental Europe). In ancient Iberia, then, the amphoras found in northern Lusitania or north-western Tarraconensis would have been carrying boiled must as an additive to pep up local wines. Since this was obviously a relatively specialized and irregular trade, we can explain the lack of bulk cargoes of Haltern 70 amphoras (Culip VIII being one of the largest known); compare other specialized products which appear to have travelled in rare amphora-forms, such as Lipari alum in Richborough 527 amphoras. This is a handsome volume, like the others in the series, but it suffers academically from a serious drawback. Nearly all the text is in Catalan (Aguilera’s contribution being in Castilian), and there are no summaries or captions in any other language. While one welcomes the resurgence of the Catalan language at home, one must deplore, in the modern situation, the publication of something which is of such international interest without any aids, no matter how brief, to readers outside Catalunya.

The Future of Australian Naval Shipbuilding

Abstract: *Gregory Copley is a Director of Future Directions International (FDI), and Chairman of FDI’s Research Committee. The Australian defence industry, Department of Defence and Royal Australian Navy (RAN), and the Australian Parliament are engaged in an increasingly complex debate over whether or not to develop the local shipbuilding industry to build and support large naval vessels. Significantly, the Defence Department and RAN, as well as much of the industry, has thus far taken a short-term view and has argued against developing a major national maritime industry expansion to cope with future national maritime requirements.

Track type propelling system for ship

Abstract: The utility model relates to a track type propelling system for ships, which is a new mode of the ship propelling system, is a mode that the propelling system is completely separated from a variable speed system and is a mode that the ship is propelled to sail out of the ship through the track carrying propelling power and a propeller. The propelling system can overcome the defects of the public known ship propelling mode, can flexibly increase and decrease the propeller and alter the position of the propeller, and can assemble the ship propelled by mechanical power to form a super sized ship. The propelling system can solve the problem that a main engine has small power in shipbuilding in the backward areas, and can be used for other vehicles, carriers and floating objects in water, such as log rafts, vehicles, etc., and is favourable for promoting water traffic transportation and vehicle-shop integration. The propelling system adopts public known universal technology and commercial products, the utility model has the advantages of simple operation and ship manufacturing investment saving, and the utility model relatively enhances human science and technology level.

An application of close range photogrammetry in shipbuilding

Abstract: A test was devised to measure the distortion of a ship section during and after a crane lift. As the shipbuilders expend significant man hours and costs in carrying out adjustments to fit ship sections together after lifting, it was hoped that information gained from the test could be used to make design adjustments to ensure a better fit. The test was carried out by BKS Surveys Ltd. and Harland and Wolff Ltd., the Belfast shipbuilders.

Framework of whole process target cost dynamic control for shipbuilding

Abstract: After analyzing the characteristics and cost control actuality of shipbuilding,this paper puts forward the framework of the whole process cost dynamic control for shipbuilding,it can achieve integrated control between cost and due time.The framework includes seven control nodes as following: quoted price,cost disassembling,(designing) cost,purchasing cost,manufacturing cost,special fee and project-after cost analyzing.The Target Cost Control System for Shipbuilding(TCCS-Shipbuilding) is introduced briefly which supports the framework.