Splash247: SSI opens platform to third-party ship models

Published by Splash247

Ship design software specialist SSI is seeking to simplify newbuilding, retrofit and conversion projects by enabling shipyards to integrate vessel models created in third-party software directly into its product lifecycle management and design platforms.

The Canadian company said the move will allow yards to work with existing ship designs without having to rebuild models from scratch, helping accelerate project timelines and reduce engineering workloads.

Under the approach, shipyards can import third-party ship models either into SSI’s Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) suite or into its ShipConstructor CAD platform, depending on the scope of modifications required.

For projects involving only minor design changes, such as repeat builds based on existing vessel designs, shipyards can manage revisions and production workflows directly within the PLM environment. More complex projects involving structural, systems or functionality changes can be imported into ShipConstructor for engineering modifications before being managed through PLM.

SSI said the capability could prove particularly valuable for repair, conversion and retrofit projects, including energy-efficiency upgrades, where original vessel data may exist only as legacy 2D drawings or models developed using different software packages.

By allowing existing design data to be reused, shipyards can avoid the costly and time-consuming process of recreating original vessel models before commencing engineering work.

“Shipyards are under pressure to deliver and are increasingly being asked to utilise existing designs to speed up program timelines,” said Bruno Benevolo, director of enterprise solutions at SSI.

“Our approach ensures that the shipyard remains in control and avoids disruption, no matter where the design package originated,” he added.

SSI said its software-agnostic approach is designed to improve collaboration and data continuity throughout the shipbuilding process, while enabling yards to streamline production, manage revisions more effectively and execute retrofit programmes more efficiently.