13-Apr-20

Block construction

Block Construction &

Accuracy Block division plan of a bulk carrier

Block construction
• In general it is common practice to make a start in the region of the
machinery space aft and also working from bottom upwards.
• In erecting the ship units it is important to employ the correct
welding sequence. These are arranged to avoid “locked in "stresses. Erection sequence for a
• Overlapping frames may be left un-welded across unit seams and General Cargo Ship
butts until these units are completed.

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Erection sequence for Erection sequence

a Bulk Carrier for an Oil Tanker

Accuracy in Ship Production Accuracy in Ship Production-Welding Shrinkage

• It is extremely important to maintain utmost accuracy while erecting • When welding is applied to a plate, the plate material
the ships structure at: will shrink slightly.
• Component level
• Dimensioning of plates, frames • Most fabrication shops have the shrinkage data based
• Precise cutting and bending and welding
• Minimize the distortion due to cutting and welding
on experience.
• Panel level • Tabulated data are also available for shrinkage
• Unit level estimation. These data can be fed to NC and CNC
• Block level
• Final erection stage on the building dock/slipway
machines to minimize the distortion.

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Accuracy in Ship Production Accuracy in Ship Production

• If dimensional control is not exercised at every stage
the cumulative errors may result in a final product very
different from the original design.
• Errors creep in due to errors in measurement and also
due to distortion during the fabrication, storage,
transportation and erection.
• To minimize dimensional errors it is important to check
and cross check salient points of the structure with
respect to other salient points as well as well defined
reference points (datum).
• Unit and block level drawings indicate the critical
distances and dimensions from salient points and well
defined reference points. Tolerance levels are also
indicated.

IACS Standard for Quality Inspection

Accuracy in Ship Production
• As the structure is assembled it is first “tack welded”.
• Small components are checked by the workers and shop floor supervisors
themselves. Larger components and critical components have to be cleared
by the Quality Control (QC) at every stage.
• Strict QC procedures to be followed in the manufacturing shops to ensure
correct dimensioning and alignment. Otherwise time consuming and extra
hard work will result later in the building berth.
• Only when it is ensured that the components are dimensionally correct
that the full welding is attempted.
• Correct sequence of welding and erection is to be followed to minimize the
effect of welding distortions.

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IACS Standard for Quality Inspection Material for Structural Members

Determination of area of consideration

Surface Condition

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Acceptance of surface imperfections / defects Some dimensional standards and tolerance limits

Fabrication and
fairness

Some dimensional standards and tolerance limits Some dimensional standards and tolerance limits

Fabrication and Fabrication and

fairness fairness

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Some dimensional standards and tolerance limits Some dimensional standards and tolerance limits

Fabrication Fabrication
and and fairness
fairness

Some dimensional standards and tolerance limits Fit-up Inspection

• As the components grow in size from part to panel to

unit and to blocks it has to be inspected and cleared to
Fabrication ensure that the finished product conform to the design
and drawing. These inspections are carried out at the tack
fairness weld stage and also after completion of the work. Such
inspections are called “Fit-up” inspections.

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• The most common tool for measurement is the

steel tape.
• Determination of “squareness” require very
accurate calculation and measurement.
• Piano wire is satisfactory for aligning over short
distances.
• Plumb lines are used to check verticality.
• Water levels are reliable for horizontal checks.
• Line of sight technique, theodolite and laser beams
are employed for block level checks.
• Laser is considered more convenient for some
work because the laser spot can be readily and
accurately picked up especially under poor lighting
condition.
• Sequence of block erection is also important to
minimize distortion.

Some dimensional standards and tolerance limits

• The bottom the ship being erected will distort as Fabrication and fairness
more and more structural weight is added.
• The foundation and blocking are inherently flexible
to various degrees.
• Record of keel deflection are maintained on a daily
basis to ensure that dock block collapse is avoided.
Normally this reading is taken at night to minimize
the diurnal temperature variation effects

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Some dimensional standards and tolerance limits Some dimensional standards and tolerance limits
Fabrication and fairness

Fabrication and
fairness

Some dimensional standards and tolerance limits Some dimensional standards and tolerance limits
Fabrication and fairness

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• Measurements are taken from main structural Arrangement of Skid

members or from reference frame lines,
waterlines and buttocks marked on a plate or
assembly.
• Measurements are sometimes taken from
reference marks on assembly jigs (skids)
• Every yard has their standards of marking
references based on their past experiences.

Turn Buckle