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What shipyards realize, however, is that in order to further improve their productivity they need a Computer Aided Design (CAD) based technology that allows for concurrent engineering. Additionally, shipyards also need a common information database to improve ship design workflow and ship life cycle processes. At the OTC 2003 conference this past May, Norway’s DNV Software and Intergraph Process, Power & Offshore, Huntsville, Ala., jointly rolled out an integrated suite of software applications that aims to address many of these issues. The package includes the initial release of Intergraph’s SmartPlant Offshore and DNV Software’s FPSO package, including SESAM and Nauticus along with facility operation management systems and Intergraph outfitting tools. Through this joint software release, DNV Software and Intergraph’s Process, Power & Offshore division want to provide an integrated design environment for the ship’s initial and basic design, detail design, production planning, construction and life cycle support. The software uses a 3D product model that contains a complete definition of the ship from its initial design to life cycle support. By the end of this year, a select group of ship designers will begin using the new software package for the design, construction and commissioning of Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels. Subsequent releases will be marketed for other offshore structures, such as Tension Leg Platforms (TLPs), floaters, and spars. DNV Software’s SESAM is a structural and hydrodynamic analysis tool and its Nauticus is used for design analysis and operation. Another important tool is DNV’s FPSO Initial Design, which provides estimates on critical design parameters used during the early design stages. The more mature the design is at the earliest stages, the better chance there is of avoiding costly changes later. To simplify and speed the creation of ship geometry, FPSO Initial Design also allows designers to select from a library of standard, predefined FPSO fore and aft hull shapes, which can then be scaled to the main ship particulars. Designers can also import a hull form. SmartPlant Offshore features a single 3D model for concurrent, multi-site engineering. Its data-centric, rule-based, integrated 3D modeling environment—particularly when combined with SmartPlant software for outfitting—aims to streamline work processes, lower manpower requirements and material outlays and cut overall facility design and construction costs and schedules. SmartPlant Offshore allows full access to current engineering data and acts as a shared repository for all design, construction and management information accessible to all authorized designers and engineers. Also included is DNV Software’s FPSO Life Cycle Manager, which handles inspections and planned periodic maintenance of hull, topsides, moorings and risers. The joint software offering stems from agreements struck by the two partners in August 2002. Under terms of that $3.9 million, five-year deal, DNV Software can resell Intergraph Process, Power & Offshore marine design applications to the shipbuilding industry except for the U. S. military market. Additionally, Intergraph will license its SmartPlant platform technology to DNV Software. In Sept. 2002, DNV Software and Intergraph introduced Intergraph IntelliShip, an advanced software for ship design and construction, and DNV Software MarineSolutions suite, which will include products built on IntelliShip. |
Shipbuilders are under increasing pressure to build ships faster, cheaper and better. Whether you’re building a tug, tanker or aircraft carrier, the cost of the vessel—its design, acquisition and life cycle—are directly impacted by shipyard productivity.