Project:

Shipbuilding technology product-oriented design

Country:

Client:

University of São Paulo

Year:

2005

The University of São Paulo is the largest institution of higher education and research in Brazil and is classified among the largest one hundred of the approximately six thousand such organisations in the world.

In 2005 the Government initiated a programme for the regeneration of the Brazilian shipbuilding industry. As part of this initiative, the Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering at the university were tasked with researching new and emerging design technologies to significantly improve the productivity and performance of the shipbuilding industry.

Dr Jessé Rebello de Souza of the University of São Paulo contacted First Marine International and commissioned a series of lectures over a period of five days for senior members of the faculty at the university. These lectures and presentations focused on product-oriented design and engineering technology and the application of spatial design techniques in shipbuilding.

At the conclusion of the lectures, FMI was invited to attend a national three-day seminar in Rio de Janeiro to discuss the further development and implementation of the technologies with members of the government and maritime industries.

Following the seminar, the university decided to pursue the introduction of product engineering and spatial design as part of the Naval Architecture syllabus. FMI was invited to join the university for development of the course and training of lecturers.

Project:

Shipbuilding technology - state of the art

Country:

USA

Client:

Maritech ASE

Year:

2000

Following the successful completion of a number of shipbuilding technology development projects for the National Shipbuilding Research Programme in the USA, in 2000 First Marine International was requested to develop a Shipbuilding State-of-the-Art report for the US Navy Maritech Advanced Shipbuilding Enterprise (ASE).

The report described new and emerging technologies, although not necessarily developed exclusively for the shipbuilding industry, were directly applicable and where successful implementation would undoubtedly lead to a significant improvement in performance.

State-of-the-art technology was described in terms of equipment, process organisation, optimum manning levels and support activities for each of forty-nine shipbuilding production and preproduction activities. For each activity, a number of key points were emphasised as a guide to the principal characteristics of the applied technology and the major benefits to be gained from implementation. Where items of major equipment were associated with the production activities, the report provided a list of international manufactures for further reference.

FMI remains active in the USA in all aspects of shipbuilding technology development and performance improvement.