Effective Shipbuilding Steps That Every Engineers

Should Know

Marine engineers, navigating officers, and onboard members perform a number of

activities in the process of building a ship. However, there is a aspect which doesn't

not involve onboard members but surely needs services of naval architects, designers,

and other shore working members.

In this blog post, I will be discussing about the ship building process, right from the

scratch. I will be covering the basic points as the subject is so detailed that a full sized

text book can be written on it. This post covers the basic technical and non-technical

aspects of the process.

Invite Tenders and Quotations

The very first step involves getting bid proposal from a number of ship developers or

builders. The proposal gives a basic idea about the shape and size of ship, time

involved in building the ship, and the cost for building it.

Image Credit :- gcaptain.com

Arrive at an Agreement:

The next step involves discussing the details of the project and arriving at an

agreement. Once the bid is finalized the ship builder and client discuss the details

and specifications and arrive at the cost of the project. After this an agreement is

made between the parties to complete the legal formalities.

Design Phase

Performance Design:

The most crucial factor in ship performance is speed. Prior to the design phase, ship

models are tested in test tanks to measure the speed of the real ship incase the hull

is formed in a specific manner. If the hull is not formed in the required manner then

the real ship will not deliver the desired speed.

After tank testing, begins the design phase, which is usually conducted in three sub

phases as per the level of details and refinement.

Basic Design: At this stage, requirements such as the load carrying capacity of the

ship, the type of ship, the fuel storage, ship stability, and consumption capacity are

complied with.

Image Credit :- www.nedcon.ro

Detailed Design:

The first step elucidated is the detailed design stage. It includes practical

implementation of the requirements analyzed before. It is ensured that the ship is

built as per the design. The ship designers ensure that the ship is akin to the original

requirements specified. At this level it is ensured that there is no compromise as far

as the performance of the ship is concerned.

Production design:

This stage is ahead of the detailed design stage. Actual drawings of the components

are created so that the field staff can produce them physically. Though not all parts

are built from the scratch, the body of the ship is built. Other major components,

such as generators, engine, and other auxiliary equipment, are sought from third

party suppliers and then fitted into the ship so that the construction can be

completed.

Ordering materials:

As per the specifications laid out, materials are ordered. A lot of material is required

in shipbuilding. It must be ensured that the materials are sought on time.

Production plan:

Once the material is acquired, targets for job assignments are set. A number of things

are coordinated to ensure that the production is carried out as per the plan. It is

ensured that this plan is flexible so that targets can be achieved easily. All this

ensures that the delivery of goods is on time.

Image credit :- www.csum.edu

Steel Cutting:

The next step in ship building involves cutting and processing. Steel plates are cut

and processed as per the blue print prepared in the design stage. To curve the steel

plates, they are heated and bent. It needs expertise and experience to get accurate

shapes for the steel plates. They are critical to the functioning of the ship.

Plate Assembly:

The cut steel plates as well as the processed components are assembled, block by

block, in this stage to ensure manufacturing efficiency. The assembly is carried out

phase by phase starting with small scale assembly, then mid scale, and in the end

large scale assembly is performed.

Pipes and Wires:

Installation of rigging articles is one of the most crucial stages of ship building. Joining

the assembled blocks, huge blocks are formed. Pipes, and electric wires are also

installed. The rigs remain in place until the block is docked on the ground.

Mounting of Blocks:

The blocks joined in the previous stage are now mounted or installed using rigs and

cranes as per the specifications. The dimensions of the blocks should remain the

same.

Launch:

Once the ship is all set, the dock is filled with water to let the ship float. The ship

gradually drifts into the sea. The operation of the quay is the crucial stage wherein

the hull is quality checked. Every component of the ship is checked to ensure that

everything is in the right size and at the right place.

Sea Trial Run:

In this stage, sea trial is conducted to ensure that the ship is perfectly operating. All

the ship instruments as well as the speed of the ship are verified.

Final Delivery:

Once the trial is conducted, ship is ready to be delivered to the end client. The

captain, the chief engineer and the crew prepare for the ship's debut voyage.

Above were the different stages involved in ship building. Following the specifications

ensures that ship building is done perfectly. This process involves a lot of hard work.

Planning as well as execution is essential to give form to a perfect ship which covers

distances in a nick of time.