China’s Jiangnan Shipyard has struck a strategic partnership with Bureau Veritas to accelerate the process of 3D submission and approval by yards and classification societies.
The objective is to meet the needs of digital transformation and the use of single-source data in ship design and construction.
The partnership agreement includes strengthening digital transformation; defining interoperability, common standards and data security strategies; assisting full life-cycle digitisation; and creating opportunities for sharing and co-innovation to enable digital twins to create a larger “three-dimensional community of application” within the maritime sector.
Jiangnan’s chief technology officer, Hu Keyi, stressed that the agreement is a joint cooperation in which both companies will be working towards the same goal, unlike an “Approval in Principle”, where a shipyard works on the project and waits for class society approval.
Hu said 3D digitalisation enables all parties — shipyard, shipowner and class surveyor — a platform where they can walk through the shipbuilding process and give instant feedback and corrections.
Matthieu de Tugny, Bureau Veritas president of marine & offshore, said the two companies “strongly believe” in 3D digitalisation being part of the future.
“This is why Bureau Veritas decided four years ago to develop our own 3D digital platform,” he said. “We are moving ahead, and now we are covering all the structural parts of the vessel and working with Jiangnan.
“You can have the 3D model online and the shipyard, designer, shipowner and class surveyors can connect, and that is the big value.”
De Tugny said a digital twin enables the parties to optimise the design, production and operation of a ship.
“A lot of efficiencies can be achieved, such as delivering technology on board the ship, optimising the space on a ship and hull, production, technical and operation.
“This is not only for newbuildings but also for operating ships. With the information, the shipping company can prepare when to dry-dock or repair the vessel.”
Why Jiangnan? De Tugny said Bureau Veritas has had previous cooperation with the yard.
“We share a lot of common values from the technical perspective. 3D class is one example; others include cyber security and so on,” he added.
“As far as Bureau Veritas is concerned, we have in mind to work with other players as well, as we think this is part of the future of shipbuilding.”
