ClassNK has announced the release of ClassNK-PEERLESS, a software package for BWMS retrofitting which aims to support system installations in existing ships more efficiently by exploiting 3D laser scanning technology.
Working with Japanese 3D software provider Armonicos, the development for this application was coordinated by ClassNK, drawing on a research project involving The University of Tokyo, Monohakobi Technology Institute, NYK, MOL, “K” Line, Sasebo Heavy Industries, Sanwa Dock, and SEA Systems.
The pressure on owners and operators to comply with the Ballast Water Convention is expected to prompt a need for urgent retrofits. However, BWMS retrofits using traditional methods can take up to several months. The principal installation issue faced is that existing ships simply have not been built to accommodate BWMS, especially in their engine rooms. Not only do the complex systems feature large diameter piping, fitting settling tanks into existing available space also presents a particular challenge which results in long design lead times needed to create 3D vessel models.
“If a client needs to install a BWMS in an engine room with limited space, a lot more effort must be made to obtain the information required for a successful retrofit. Multiple onboard inspections have to be conducted and detailed drawings need to be created. In developing ClassNK-PEERLESS, our objective was to ease this burden on our clients by minimizing design lead times and disturbance during the BWMS retrofit process,” says Yasushi Nakamura, ClassNK Representative Director and Executive Vice President.
ClassNK-PEERLESS, as opposed to traditional methods which require repeated physical inspection inside ship spaces, offers a safe and time-efficient solution by using 3D laser scanning to envisage the given structure without having to touch it.
The process is simple. The high-precision 3D laser scanner takes approximately 20 scans from different angles in the engine room, collecting over 100 million coordinates (point data) with the whole process onboard taking less than a day. Once the laser scanner has collected the point data, this is then converted into 3D data using the specially designed ClassNK-PEERLESS software package, which includes dedicated one-click command settings for stairs, valves, H-steel, and other structural parts, before finally being converted into 3D computer aided design (CAD) data.
“Developing an accurate plan of the engine room with the precise locations of pipes and equipment has generally been a lengthy and difficult process. Through the development of ClassNK-PEERLESS, we have made it possible for shipyards to plan and troubleshoot the installation process, as well as carry out retrofits as efficiently as possible by cutting the required man hours during the post-process and 3D modelling stages by 75 – 80%.”
Launched in November 2014, ClassNK-PEERLESS has already been used for retrofits on over 30 vessels including bulk carriers, container carriers, LNG carriers and pure car carriers. Although predominantly used for BWM system retrofits so far, ClassNK-PEERLESS can in fact be applied across a whole range of shipbuilding and can even transcend into automotive, civil engineering, BIM, plant and factory facilities.
“As the entry into force of the BWM Convention approaches, we will continue supporting our clients in maintaining compliant operations and believe ClassNK-PEERLESS will play a key role in this, bringing tremendous benefits to the industry.”
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