French cruise shipbuilder, Chantiers de l’Atlantique, has signed an agreement with Finnish maritime software company, NAPA to enhance hull design efficiency by co-developing 3D software and digital workflows.
The two companies will collaborate to digitalise and enhance the detail design processes at the Saint Nazaire-based shipyard using NAPA Steel, the 3D structural design tool.
By integrating NAPA Steel with a software used at the production design stage, the combined solution will enable the engineers and naval architects to communicate swiftly and work together from the basic design stage, with hull design and outfitting, through to production design.
The software will help to manage the growing design complexity and will allow Chantiers de l’Atlantique to meet customers’ needs for efficient, safe and innovative vessels, the shipyard said.
This initiative was driven by the recognition that no software alone can meet all the needs of the design process, from the basics to production design.
Tackling this challenge, Chantiers de l’Atlantique adopted a pragmatic, ‘best-of-breed’ approach, where organisations are able to utilise different software to perform a particular function.
By bringing together engineers in charge of structures, propulsion, electrical, general arrangements and weight estimations, this collaboration will help ensure smooth co-ordination and optimal performance in shipbuilding projects where complex requirements and frequent changes demand agility and precision, the shipyard added.
Furthermore, through the interface between the NAPA 3D model and production design 3D model, the ones created by structural teams can be made available earlier to their colleagues in outfitting and production designs, thereby saving time and boosting efficiency.
This agreement followed a successful pilot that confirmed the potential of NAPA Steel to streamline ship design workflows, resulting in tangible time and cost savings.
By strengthening the deployment of 3D-based design tools and integrated workflows, particularly in detail design, NAPA will help deliver greater efficiency, collaboration, and design quality.
This partnership with NAPA marks a new milestone in Chantiers de l’Atlantique’s ‘digital shipyard’ strategy. The yard specialises in cruise and navy ships, plus offshore installations.
Laurent Castaing, Chantiers de l’Atlantique CEO, said: “This collaboration with NAPA helps us raise the bar in building the next generation of safer, smarter and more efficient vessels.
“As a world leader in highly advanced vessels, such as cruise and navy ships and offshore installations, managing design complexity is business critical. This requires efficient and streamlined workflows throughout a vessel’s design and production phases.
“Using agile tools and digital processes is at the heart of this, enabling our teams to take innovation to the next level and respond to our customers’ needs for efficient and future-proof designs,” he said.
Mikko Kuosa, NAPA CEO, added: “It has been an exciting journey with Chantiers de l’Atlantique to take their digital shipyard vision to new heights.
“Co-developing a solution that makes greater use of 3D-based digital tools and workflows is the way forward for ship design, unlocking a new level of collaboration and efficiency.
“Today this is more important than ever, at a time when there is growing demand for innovative vessels to support shipping’s energy transition. The digital era gives shipyards a solid foundation to innovate, while also enhancing their own productivity to maintain strong businesses,” he said.
