Prefab Ships

lpetrich · Jun 19, 2021

YouTube's recommendation algorithm can dig up odd things. Like time-lapse video of cruise ships being built. I was startled to see several large cruise ships being built in prefabricated fashion.

What one might at first think is building these ships on the spot from basic parts: beams and sheets and the like. As an example, I give Part 1 100th Anniversary RMS TITANIC The Construction 1907-1912 - YouTube

The Titanic was built in steel-frame fashion, much like a steel-frame building or a wood-frame house.

That's why it was such a shock to see videos like these. Especially given the titanic proportions of these ships.

How do they do it?

MEYER WERFT: Building cruise ships like Lego

Modern shipbuilding uses modular construction processes. Our engineers use computer programmes to break the ship down into small, Lego-like pieces. Each module is pre-assembled – including all the necessary fittings, such as cable shafts, air conditioning ducts and even balconies. The individual building blocks – up to 80 per ship – are only joined, welded together and wired at the dry docks right at the end. This means different groups of specialists can work simultaneously on one ship to drastically reduce the construction time.

Just as I expected. The ships' designers and builders use CAD/CAM software - Computer Assisted Design / Computer Assisted Manufacturing.

Modern shipbuilding uses modular construction processes. Our engineers use computer programmes to break the ship down into small, Lego-like pieces. Each module is pre-assembled – including all the necessary fittings, such as cable shafts, air conditioning ducts and even balconies. The individual building blocks – up to 80 per ship – are only joined, welded together and wired at the dry docks right at the end. This means different groups of specialists can work simultaneously on one ship to drastically reduce the construction time. how much do they cost? How does the weight have to be distributed to ensure the ship remains stable in the wind and waves? When does each production stage have to begin to ensure the timely delivery to the shipping company? Which materials have to be used to ensure fire safety and soundproofing? All these questions – and many, many more – have to be considered by our designers. That’s why we first design and construct our ships using virtual 3D models and moving visualisations. Each new ship has to be recalculated to ensure a unique and tailored design.

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We use an innovative and automated transport management system to sustainably organise the material flows at our shipyard.

Using CAD/CAM means that every piece can have the right dimensions to fit with its neighboring pieces.

This is also what makes possible lengthening of cruise ships, by cutting a ship in two, inserting a prefabricated segment, then welding the three parts into place.

Prefab Ships

lpetrich

Contributor