A European Union-funded shipbuilding research programme has been launched in the Netherlands.
Backed by the Innovation & Networks Executive Agency (INEA) of the European Commission, NAVAIS is an innovation scheme aiming to increase efficiency in design and flexibility.
The EU is pumping in EUR 6.5m ($7.56m) over four years through its own Horizon 2020 research programme, Netherlands Maritime Technology (NMT) said.
"Worldwide competition is fierce, and in order to maintain world-leadership in complex, value-added and highly specialised vessels, European shipbuilders must develop tailor-made innovative concepts that are efficient to design and build," it added.
Partners include Damen Shipyards, which is coordinating the programme with NMT, plus Marine Design Engineering in Ukraine, Damen Galati in Romania, Marine Engineering, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore and Marin.
NAVAIS will develop a platform-based modular product approach, focussing on passenger ferries and multi-use workboats.
A switch from an engineered-to-order business model to an assemble-to-order model will allow shorter process lead-times, constant quality, reduced design and production costs and better integration of the supply chain, NMT said.
