The role of a classification society in the shipbuilding industry is to verify and certify that the design of a ship meets the rules and legal requirements. The classification society conducts a technical review of the ship’s required plans and documents to check the conformity of the design. This technical review is being done through printed documents and 2D drawings prepared by the designer or the shipyard. Although this process is time-consuming, it is also very likely to make mistakes.
The 3D plan approval system, which is a new technological trend in the world, is used to create a completely digital workflow that provides an uninterrupted and transparent digital model exchange between stakeholders during the new construction and basic design phases of ships. A 3D model created early in the design phase and shared among project stakeholders will eliminate the need for 2D drawings produced for the approval of classification societies. The digital 3D model is the basis for the verification of the design according to the classification rules and functional goals.
Some leading stakeholders and classification societies, such as DNV, Lloyd’s Register, Bureau Veritas, Class NK, including Türk Loydu, and three major Computer Aided Design (CAD) providers came together and decided to develop a standard called Open Class 3D Model Exchange (OCX) to determine the necessary infrastructure for 3D Plan Approval processes and to create software standards in this context. Türk Loydu, who has the right to vote in the steering committee of the consortium as a full member, will also be able to participate in any future technical workshop and meeting and assume the role of coordinator when necessary.
The advantages of the 3D plan approval process compared to traditional drawing plan approval are:
-Reducing the workload of the designer, classification society and shipyard due to less drawing.
-More accurate and easier determination of class rules requirements through a 3D design.
-Ability to review ships in every axis
-Possibility to optimize the calculation process by directly interfacing with all calculation software such as structural and stability using the 3D design model
-Providing improved process transparency and fast support
-Speeding up the verification process of designs
-Reduction of direct and indirect costs (Direct reduction in engineering hours)
Computer Aided Design (CAD) models are now replacing technical drawings and documents in many major industries. In the last decade, the use of CAD models has been increasing rapidly in the automotive, aerospace and construction industries. In the shipbuilding industry, as in other sectors, organizations are keeping up with this trend and investing heavily in digitalization processes. Türk Loydu will continue to invest in digital processes by identifying the prominent elements in its sector.
Source: Türk Loydu Foundation
Making a statement about the OCX Consortium membership, Türk Loydu Foundation Chairman of the Board Cem Melikoğlu said: “We are going through a very productive period in which we have started to take our digital transformation efforts one step further in terms of providing competitive advantage in our sector. As Türk Loydu, we always try to understand the expectations of the users; We are trying to include the change in the world of technology in our institution and to offer the opportunities developed in terms of software to the service of both our customers and our employees. We are taking initiatives in many different areas to transform and renew our existing services. One of the most important of these initiatives was our participation as a full member of the OCX Consortium”
With the Covid-19 Pandemic, we have seen that the demand for digital processes is quite high. We also make great efforts to strengthen our digital infrastructure and improve our processes. Automation plays an important role in process improvement, as one of the easiest ways to improve processes is to eliminate manual labor and reduce human error. In this process, Türk Loydu will continue to improve its processes by making the necessary investments in software that will facilitate and modernize many of our business processes, such as 3D plan approval, in order to replace the traditional design documentation and review process, improve information exchange between different stakeholders, and ultimately speed up the classification process, and by making many initiatives in this regard.” Melikoglu added.
Source: Türk Loydu Foundation