SHIPYARD PRACTICES

(A) LINES PLAN

• The lines plan (lines drawing) consists of projections of the intersections of

the hull with a series of planes. The planes are equally spaced in each of the
three dimensions and mutually perpendicular in nature.
• The point of intersection of these planes with the hull results in a series of
lines that are projected on a single plane located on the front, top or side of
the ship. This results in three separate projections, or views, called the Body
Plan, half breadth plan and sheer or profile plan respectively.

• In other words, a lines plan is a drawing, to a suitable scale, of the moulded

lines of the vessel in plan, profile, and section. Thus, a lines plan consists of
1. Half breadth Plan – Plan View (Top projection)
2. Sheer or Profile Plan – Side Elevation (Side projection)
3. Body Plan – Cross-section (Front projection)

• These plans collectively or individually lend form to the vessel. Usually ten
equally spaced sections are selected with half ordinates at the ends where a
greater change of shape occurs.
• These 2-D plans used to be then converted into full scale outline models
with wood and plastic. This process was called lofting. Fairing was a part of
this process whereby the hull was shaped to reduce drag. These full scale
models were replaced by mathematical models with Computer Aided
Design (CAD).

• Preliminary body plans are drawn initially to give the correct displacement,
trim, capacity, etc., and must be laid off in ‘plan’ (view from top) and
‘elevation’ (view from front / back / side) to ensure fairness of the hull form.
• When the final faired body plan is available, the full lines plan is completed
showing also the profile or sheer plan of the vessel and the plan of the
water-line shapes at different heights above the base.

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 Only For Understanding

Referring to the picture above, and for the sake of visualization, place the ship in
an ‘imaginary rectangular box’ whose sides touch the keel and the sides of the
ship. The bottom, side and the front of the box will serve as the basis for three
orthogonal projection screens on which lines will be projected onto. The lines to
be projected result from the intersection of the hull with planes parallel to each of
the three planes mentioned.

SHEER OR PROFILE PLAN:

A plane that runs from bow to stern directly through the center of the ship and
parallel to the sides of the imaginary box is called the ‘centre line plane’. A series
of planes parallel to one side of the centre line plane are imagined at regular
intervals from the centre line. Each plane will intersect the ship’s hull and form a
curved line at the points of intersection. These lines form the ‘sheer plan’ and are
referred to as ‘bow lines’ forward and ‘buttock lines’ aft. These lines show the true
shape of the hull from the side view for some distance from the centre line of the
ship. Hence, they are also known as ‘profile plan’ as they reflect the profile of the
ship.

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HALF-BREADTH PLAN
The bottom of the imaginary box is a reference plane called the ‘base plane’. The
base plane is usually level with the keel. A series of planes parallel and above the
base plane are imagined at regular intervals. Each plane will intersect the ship’s
hull and form a line at the points of intersection. These lines are called ‘waterlines’
and all are projected onto a single plane called the ‘Half-Breadth plan’. Each of
these waterlines shows the true shape of the hull form from the top view for
some elevation above the base plane. Since ships are symmetrical about their
centre line, they only need to be drawn for the starboard or port side, thus the
name ‘Half Breadth plan’.

BODY PLAN:
Planes parallel to the front and back of the imaginary box are called ‘stations’.
There are three important stations. The intersection of the ship’s stem at the
design water line known as the Forward Perpendicular (FP), the intersection of
the stern at the design waterline (immersed transom) or the rudder stock called
the Aft Perpendicular (AP) and the station midway between the perpendiculars
called the midship station. Each station plane will intersect the ship’s hull and form
a curved line at the point of intersection. These lines are called ‘sectional lines’ and
are all projected onto a single plane called the ‘Body Plan’. The body plan takes
advantage of the ship’s symmetry. Hence, only half sections are shown. The
sections forward of amidships are shown on the right side, and the sections aft of
amidships are shown on the left side. The amidships section is generally shown on
both sides of the body plan.

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 Body Plan

(B) SHELL EXPANSION PLAN

• The arrangement of the shell plating taken from a 3-D model may be
represented on a 2-D drawing referred to as a shell expansion plan.
• All vertical dimensions in this drawing are taken around the girth of the
vessel rather than their being a direct vertical projection. This technique
illustrates both the side and bottom plating as a continuous whole.
• This plan also shows the numbering of plates, and lettering of plate strakes.
• This drawing was often subsequently retained by the shipowner to identify
plates damaged in service. Single plates were often marked in sequence to
aid ordering and production identification.

METHOD OF SHIPBUILDING: ‘WIRE FRAME METHOD’ / COMPUTER

AIDED DESIGN (CAD) / COMPUTER AIDED MANUFACTURING (CAM)

• In recent times, a ship’s hull and its subsequent fairing for production
purposes is accomplished without committing any plan on paper.
• Software systems are used which are based on the concept of the ‘Ship
Product Model’ in which the geometry and the attributes of all elements of
the ship derived from the contract design and classification society
structural requirements are stored. This model can be visualized at all stages
and can be exploited to obtain information for production of the ship.

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 • Data is input into the CAD software which in turn produces wire frame
models. Wire frame images are extensively used in the animation industry.
• Both lofting and fairing which were previously done manually, are now done
using the software to produce 3-D images which can be manipulated by the
software to produce the required design parameters. With this technique,
effects of load on the hull structure can be reproduced on the screen.
• The model can be worked on interactively with other stored shipyard
standards and practices to produce detailed arrangement and working
drawings.
• The precision of the structural drawings generated enables them to be used
with greater confidence than was possible with manual drawings. Also, the
materials requisitioning information can be stored on the computer to be
interfaced with the shipyard’s commercial systems for purchasing and
material control.
• A 3-D steel assembly can be rotated by the draughtsman on screen to assess
the best orientation for maximum down-hand welding.
• The use of 3-D drawings is particularly valuable in the area of outfit drawings
where items like pipe work and ventilation/air-conditioning trunking can be
‘sighted’ in the 3-D mode and more accurately measured before being
created in the 2-D drawing.

PLATE NESTING
• From the wire frame model, nesting software is used to produce the
Nesting plan. It is a plan which indicates where a particular plate will fit. It is
according to the nesting plan that the plates are scanned and marked ready
for cutting.
• For a numerically controlled profiling machine, the piece parts to be cut are
‘nested’, i.e. fitted into the most economic plate which can be handled by
the machine with minimum wastage.
• In this way, the shipowner reduces the cost by minimizing the wastage of
material and saving time at the cutting workshop. However, some parts
may have to be stowed in a suitable identified location till it is required at
the prefabrication workshop.
• The order in which the parts are to be marked and cut can be defined by
drawing the tool head around the parts on the graphics screen.

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 Plate Nesting

PREFABRICATION
• During the Second World War, a large number of merchant and war ships
were required to be built in a short period of time. These requirements led
to the rise of Prefabrication of ship units i.e. the construction of individual
sections of the ship’s structure prior to erection. Today all vessels are
prefabricated to varying degrees.
• In prefabrication, various units are manufactured at a location remote from
the shipyard, and erection is carried out in the shipyards. This also makes
the process of shipbuilding faster, thus saving time.
• Another reason for the rise of prefabrication is the increase in size of ships
like bulk carriers and tankers where some shipyards with restricted facilities,
building berth or dock size have to resort to prefabrication. In such a case,
the ship is built in two halves and joined using a caisson. (Caisson is a large
watertight chamber, open at the bottom, from which water is kept out by
air pressure & in which construction work may be carried out under water.)
• With prefabrication, it is possible to turn units over to allow downhand
welding which is easier to perform and likely to provide better results. There
is great advantage in keeping vertical and overhead welding to a minimum.

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 • Some units have to be prepared under cover for better weld condition.
Prefabrication makes this possible.
• Prefabrication sequence is carefully planned in order to fit the time allowed
at berth or in the building dock.

SHIP BUILDING – BLOCK DIAGRAMS

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NOTE:

• Draughtsman – is a person who makes detailed technical plans or drawings

• Loftsman – is a person who draws up full-size outlines from the drawing or

plans for parts of a ship

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MMD QUESTIONS:

1. What is a ‘wire frame model’?

2. Write short notes on (a) Plate Nesting (b) Pre-fabrication.
3. In what way is prefabrication different from the earlier methods used?
4. What are the advantages of prefabrication?
5. Discuss with aid of block diagram the flow of information and
sequences of ship construction in a modern shipyard.
6. Describe the sequence of events that take place in a shipyard during
construction of a new ship.
7. Sketch and describe the sheer plan and body plan.

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