In January this year, DNV launched its new Nauticus Hull software, which provides unique support for the Common Structural Rules for double-hull oil tankers.
The launch was the result of a large and dedicated R&D activity, and was timed only three weeks after the Rules were adopted by the Council of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).
Why new Rules?
The new Rules are based on clearly identifiable scientific principles where the failure modes can be more explicitly matched to the applied loads. Thereby, the new Rules provide a consistent and transparent approach to the assessment of the ship structural system.
Being adopted by all IACS societies, the new Rules will allow shipbuilders and designers to work with one common set of Rules, instead of one Rule set from each class society.
Further, the new Rules seek to address the issues of both safety and longevity. Safety is associated with traditional classification strength requirements, while longevity refers to the period over which a ship retains the necessary minimum strength.
Why software support for the new Rules is so critical
The new rule requirements introduce a radical shift towards more computerisation of the rule formulations and structural assessment. Hence, good software support is critical for any Class to provide timely and rational support to shipowners as well as designers and shipbuilders. As a response to this, DNV’s well-established Nauticus Hull program has undergone a major upgrade to provide efficient support for the new Rules.
Nauticus Hull is a powerful software package for the design and strength assessment of ship structures. It provides a highly efficient environment for ship design, with capabilities ranging from simplified rule-check and scantling calculations to advanced tools for extended calculation procedures, including wave load and finite element structural analysis.
DNV’s commitment to support the industry
“In an effort to support the industry in connection with the transition to the new Rules, DNV has continuously developed its Nauticus Hull software to support the draft Rules as they were developed,” says Wilhelm Magelssen, the head of DNV Maritime’s business and marketing department.
The software has been developed in close cooperation with major shipyards and owners in Korea and Japan to ensure it supports the design process in a most efficient way. “For the past two years, we’ve distributed an updated version to the yards and owners every 2nd month in order to accommodate their feedback and development directions. We’ve also held frequent workshops with them at their premises or in DNV Head office,” adds Elling Rishoff, the managing director of DNV Software.
DNV has also actively used the software internally in the testing, development and calibration of the new Rules. Realising the complexity for industry of introducing radically new Classification Rules, DNV has implemented an extensive training programme for all approval units, making us well prepared to provide responsive and local support to the industry.
“DNV is now scaling up its operations world-wide to assist its clients in implementing the common structural rules for their upcoming hull development projects, and with our unique blend of in-depth competence of the new Rules combined with unique software support, we are well positioned to maintain our position as the number one Class society on tanker designs,” says Wilhelm Magelssen.
”Nauticus Hull’s modern software platform has enabled us to deliver front-end software for the new tanker rules before our competitors. We will also continue to develop it to ensure that support for the new bulk carrier rules becomes a permanent part of Nauticus Hull when the rules come into force in April 2006,” concludes Elling Rishoff.
Date: 2006-03-13