InterSHIP consortium of European shipyards has published two new requests for proposals to develop tools addressing various processes involved in design and production of passenger ships and RoPax vessels. The aim of InterSHIP is to increase competitiveness of EU shipbuilders by improved integration of tools and methods for design and manufacturing of complex “one-of-a-kind” vessels. Seven top shipbuilders are involved in this programme, which began in November 2003. Kvaerner Masa Yards, Chantiers de L’ Atlantique, fincantieri, Izar Costrucciones Navales, Jos. L. Meyer, Flensburger Schiffbau Gesellschaft and Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo. The overall programme comprises 25 individual projects, with focal areas including knowledge management, logistics, modularisation and steel fabrication.

Latest requests for proposals call for development of a concept for improved application of functional and first principle design methods and development of methods and tools for design for production and cost estimation. Since the ship design using conventional rules of the classification societies often does not allow application of state-of-the-art technologies, direct functional design and risk assessment tools are needed to explore opportunities for better products.

Other problem is that majority of costs in the shipbuilding process occur during production, while they are locked-in by decisions made during an early design phase. Design for production and effective methods of cost estimation in design phases are key to cost reduction. Therefore, it is important to establish criteria for cost efficient and easy-to-manufacture design solutions based on past experiences and knowledge of the shipbuilding process.