Odense Steel Shipyard Ltd. A/S in Denmark is joining forces with Japanese and Korean shipbuilders to test out brand new technology that is expected to revolutionize modern shipbuilding. IntelliShip utilizes virtual reality to enable simultaneous engineering projects to be completed more rapidly.
IntelliShip has been jointly developed by Odense Steel Shipyard in Denmark, Samsung Heavy Industries in Korea, and Universal Shipbuilding (Hitachi) in Japan. DNV and Intergraph have been working in close cooperation with the three yards on further development, as well as the integration of work processes.
The three yards are currently conducting simultaneous tests before the new shibuilding information system is fully implemented for commercial production at the yards by the end of 2003. Torben Andersen, executive vice president at the Odense Steel Shipyard and chairman and chief executive officer of the Global Research and Development Company Inc, has been heavily involved in the development of IntelliShip since its creation in 1995.
"We realized that the computerized techniques still in use from the 70s were about to be retired, and that we had to do something if we wanted to stay in business. We therefore decided to join forces with other shipbuilders to develop an integrated system that incorporated know-how from owners, yards and class," explains Andersen
Beyond current CAD-based solutions
By using standard Microsoft programming tools, the new software is considered to be a significant advance beyond current CAD-based solutions in terms of data-centricity, customizability, flexibility, productivity, rule-based engineering and integration.
"Our specification identified that the system should be easy to use and be able to run simultaneously on a global basis. From our extensive tests we can conclude that IntelliShip has increased the capacity of the ship designers by 100% percent, proving that we have succeeded in introducing the next generation of computerized design and production," states Andersen.
Concurrent advantage
Andersen believes the real advantage of IntelliShip is its concurrent system. "Unlike traditional design-and-build methods, the entire newbuilding project can now be modelled, changed and communicated simultaneously rather than consecutively. All parties involved in a project can work on the same data, which enables us to do the design from remote locations as well as on site," he says.
"Having used IntelliShip at our shipyard for a year, we can already prove increased productivity. The new solution has reduced the time spent on newbuilding design and construction, and has lowered construction costs. I think this is the best investment in shipbuilding for years to come. It will contribute to help us double our capabilities and improve the total quality of design," he adds.
Life-cycle support
According to Andersen, the new tool opens up the unbeatable opportunity for ship life-cycle support. "The core technology of IntelliShip enables new ways of using the information captured by the system. It is possible to combine administrative systems with information from a virtual reality design, and it will be possible to carry design information over to the operation of ships. If something goes wrong onboard a vessel, class and owners can view different solutions at the same time in the same virtual reality, which will reduce costs and increase the speed to overcome problems," he says.
DNV Software is currently working on this concept and is planning to launch commercial products within three years.