UNIT 2.

SHIP DESIGN 1

UNIT 2: SHIP DESIGN

Lesson 2: Design of the Ship

Part A: Reading Comprehension
D. J. Iyres. 5th Ed. (2001). Ship Construction Butterworth-Heinemann, p. 4.

The economic factor is of prime importance in designing a merchant ship. An

owner requires a ship which will give him the best possible returns for his initial
investment and operation costs. This means that in addition to present economic
considerations, costs developed during the life of the ship shall be taken into
account in final design.

With the aid of computers it is possible to make a study of a large number of

varying design parameters. Ship design should be technically feasible and
economically efficient.

Ship design is carried out in two main stages: Initial design and post contract
design. Initial design is mainly involved in contractual aspects, while in post
contract design; the focus is on the technical issues.

INITIAL DESIGN

The initial design of a ship generally proceeds through three stages: concept;
preliminary; and contract design. The process of initial design is often illustrated
by the design spiral (Figure 2.1) which shows the designer works towards the
best solution.

A concept design should, from the objectives, provide sufficient information for
a basic techno-economic assessment. Economic criteria that may be used to
measure ships profitability are net present value, discounted cash flow or
required freight rate. Preliminary design analyses the agreed concept design, fills
out the arrangements and structure and aims at optimizing service performance.
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Contract design details the final arrangements agreed with the owner and
satisfies the building contract conditions.

Total design is not complete at this stage, it has only just started, post contract
design contains in particular design for production where the structure, outfit and
systems are planned in detail to achieve a cost and time effective building cycle.

Figure 2.1. Design Spiral (Initial Design)

Part B: Vocabulary
Net present value (NPV) is the difference between
Net Present Value
the present value of cash inflows and the present
(NPV) value of cash outflows over a period of time.
Discounted cash flow (DCF) is a valuation method
Discounted Cash
used to estimate the attractiveness of an investment
Flow (DCF)
opportunity.
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Lesson 3: Post Contract Design

Part A: Reading Comprehension
K.J. Rawson, E.C. Tupper. 5th Ed. (2001). Basic ship theory- Vol. II
Butterworth-Heinemann, p. 644

The amount of work involved in the design process will depend upon the size
and complexity of the ship - a liquefied gas carrier will be more complicated
than a simple tanker. The division of work between the owner’s naval architects
and those of the main contractor will vary. This does not change the sum total of
the technical work but can impact upon the management of the process.

Typically the naval architects involvement can be split into seven stages1
although with different people at different stages. The first three stages are the
main design phases. Terminology will vary from organization to organization
but the basic ideas are the same.

First stage: Usually called the concept or feasibility stage

In this stage the customers’ requirements are specified together with the criteria
for customer acceptance of the total system. The overall system can be further
sub-divided to create a description of all systems.

The designer then considers various ways of meeting the needs of each element
of the design and hence the feasibility of meeting the overall requirement. Costs
of preferred options can be estimated to finalize a solution with the customer.

Second stage: The feasibility or functional design

In the second stage the systems and sub-systems of the first stage are designed
and the interfaces are determined. It is important to define accurately all the
interfaces so as to avoid duplication or omissions. Then the design shall be
refined using a wide range of inputs - design reviews, analyses, specialist

1
. Stage = Step = Phase
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advices, modellings, information from equipment suppliers and feedback of

experience from sea.

Third stage: The full design

In this stage the detailed layout of compartments and the sizing and routing of all
cabling, trunking and piping is carried out. From the information obtained in this
phase, a list of all the material needed to build the ship can be defined.

--- Question ---

What does “MTO” stand for? (See a sample MTO in APPENDIX III)

Fourth stage: Planning

During this phase the information – drawings, computer inputs and so on – to

support manufacture and assembly is produced. This must be associated with a
build plan to ensure that material and information are available in a timely
manner to support the planned building sequence.

Fifth stage: The build stage

This is the stage that covers the manufacture and assembly of the ship and all its
associated systems and equipment.

Sixth stage: Testing and commissioning

As sections of the ship are completed they must be tested to ensure the
requirements have been met, including those of safety. Early tests will show the
air or water tightness of structure. Then there are tests to show that systems have
been installed correctly. Finally the overall performance will be determined by
trials at sea.

Seventh stage: In- service

The owner will be concerned with support of the ship throughout its life. There
will be initial periods which will be covered by warranty. The owner may also
make the original contractor responsible for extended periods of operation. This
encourages the production of a reliable product.
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Part B: Home Work – Comprehension Exercises

Put the following expressions in appropriate box in the given imaginary
organization chart for construction of a ship. (More than one expression in
a box is possible.)
Builder – Contractor – Client – Operator – Owner – Engineering Office –
Supplier – Classification Society – Consultant – Sub-contractors.

Part C: Home Work – Team Work

C.1. Introduce 5 famous international companies for each expression of
Part B.
C.2. Introduce 3 famous Iranian companies for each expression of Part
B.