France-based classification society Bureau Veritas shake hands with 3D Metal Forge and ship operator PACC Offshore Services Holdings Ltd in order to boost maritime additive manufacturing innovation.
Namely, under their collaboration partners goal to enhance the use of additive manufacturing within the maritime industry.
In fact, collaborators plan to:
- Improve operational efficiency and reduce risks for the replacement of critical components which might keep a ship tied up in dock or that might prevent a ship from functioning safely and effectively.
- Eliminate the need for physical inventory, storage, potentially complex distribution, and logistics costs.
- Provide cost benefits to clients, particularly for the procurement of hard to source, obsolete, and out of stock spare parts.
As explained, following a joint survey conducted onboard a POSH vessel, four components have been identified for additive manufacturing.
Additive manufacturing helps in getting custom, purpose-built certified parts delivered in shorter lead times. We look forward to working with BV onboard POSH’s vessel.
…as Matthew Waterhouse, CEO, 3D Metalforge said.
Specifically, these pieces will be established by 3DMF with technologies including fused filament fabrication, laser powder bed fusion, and directed energy deposition that leverage the design and material advantages offered by utilising additive Manufacturing.
Upon the successful demonstration and installation onboard a Singapore-flagged vessel, BV from its side, will inspect the identified components to ensure conformity and safety.
At the same time, BV experts will also verify the entire additive manufacturing process from design, through qualification, and into production.
The certified final products owned by POSH will be installed onboard the vessel for trials lasting between three to six months. The POSH Teal, a 21,000 BHP anchor handling towing and support vessel, has been nominated as the trial vessel.
Additive manufacturing – if undertaken under controlled conditions and appropriate processes – will change the way we order components, all whilst ensuring a continued high level of quality and safety.
…David Barrow, Marine & Offshore, Vice-President South Asia and Pacific, Bureau Veritas, concluded.
