Why ornamental half models?

Originally used by shipyards to communicate design features to vessel owners before they were made, half hull models are often found mounted on a board. They are exact scale replicas of one half of the ship’s hull, without the rigging or other fixtures. Whilst today boats are designed using computer modelling, half hull models are often still built as nautical art after the boat is completed. They may also be used in competitive sailing as trophies, or as gifts for sponsors or commercial owners. For some, half hull models are also seen as collector items, with some fetching extremely high prices on the market.

Digital Solutions for Displaying Naval Architecture

Digital Dry Dock can quickly produce a digital half hull model from any vessel’s point cloud or 3D scan data. Depending on the purpose of the model there is the option to either CNC mill or 3D print them from a range of materials.

When requested for decorative purposes, we can CNC mill the designs from wood, to provide an elegant, solid and quality replica. There are a range of finishes which can be provided, or the finish can be left ‘raw’ for finishing by the boat owner if required.

In the instances where half hull models are still used for design concepts, there is the option to 3D print the hulls at a significantly lesser cost. This can help with visualising design features, particularly when the appearance of the vessel is priority, without spending more than is necessary.

Alternatively, we can supply just the digital half hull model should the customer want to find their own route to manufacture or where digital visualisation is enough.

Results

Regardless of finish, all half hull models are exceptionally accurate to-scale replicas of vessels, which can be provided with a quick turnaround.  Our scanning technology makes creating a 3D half model a relatively quick and easy process, particularly when compared with traditional methods of working from manual measurements.

CNC Milling of Wood laminate method.

If you’re interested in a half model design concept or replica of your vessel, get in touch at info@digitaldrydock.co.uk to see how we can create one for you.

The post Digital Solutions for Naval Architecture 3 – Creating Ornamental Half Models appeared first on Digital Dry Dock Ltd.

Isles of Scilly Passenger Ferries

The Isles of Scilly is a remote archipelago, 28 miles from the Cornish mainland. With over 140 islands, the smallest no larger than a rock and the largest no bigger than three by two miles, the inter-island passenger ferries are an essential part of life in this remote corner of the United Kingdom. The ferries run services between the five inhabited islands – St Mary’s, Tresco, St Martin’s, Bryher and St Agnes. They also run routes to Samson, the largest of the uninhabited islands.

Earlier this year, five of the inter-island passenger ferries had their draught mark positions in question by the surveying authorities – the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and a naval architect. Draught marks are used by the master to ensure that the vessel is not overloaded, as according to its stability book datums, before leaving port.

Digital Solutions for Complying with Naval Architectural Standards

 Being in a remote location, traditional methods of checking draught mark positions require boat owners in the Scillies to spend multiple days, or even weeks, travelling to mainland boatyards and having work carried out. To save the time, hassle and costs of doing so in addition to their annual haul out and maintenance period on the mainland, the ferry owners asked Digital Dry Dock if we could complete the work alongside the routine maintenance work.

By conducting a 3D laser scan survey of the vessels, we were able to create an accurate ‘as-built’ digital twin for each vessel, working around other contractors who were conducting GRP modifications, engineering works, antifouling and painting work. After scanning, we applied the stability book datums to the models, to determine where the draught marks should be compared to where they had been marked so far on the hull.

The next step was to produce a 2D CAD drawing which could be used to show the correct position, size and spacing of the marks. This drawing included measurements taken from the digital twin, which allowed us to position them with far greater accuracy than traditional methods calculated by hand, as well as saving ferry owners time and money by limiting their time on the dry dock.

The Result

With our method approved by the MCA we were able to CNC laser cut new marks and install them on the beach in St Mary’s, saving the vessel owners an additional trip to the mainland. Our methods also made it possible to avoid the arduous, time-intensive and costly process of manually levelling the vessels to ‘real world level’ before positioning the marks. By using 3-axis laser levels with a survey grade elevating tripod to lay them out, we were able to position the marks within an hour. These positions were then verified by the MCA before we installed them on the GRP hulls with a permanent mastic adhesive.

As a result, the naval architect and MCA are now satisfied that all five ferries’ draught marks comply with naval architectural standards.

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At Digital Dry Dock, we combine naval architecture with the latest digital technologies to significantly reduce project costs, schedules and the time vessels spend in dry dock. Often, our technology removes the need for time spent in dry dock altogether. In our latest blog series, Digital Solutions for Naval Architecture, we share some case studies with you to demonstrate how we gather data and how this helps our customers to build things in a smarter, faster way. In these three recent examples, we were able to support maritime businesses to deliver CAD support for new passenger ferries, to ensure compliance with naval architectural standards and to create 3D half models for use in design and decoration.

St Michael’s Mount Passenger Ferries

St Michael’s Mount is a tidal island in Mount’s Bay, Cornwall. Accessible via a set of iconic granite steps at low tide, as the tide rises the historic castle and its surrounding gardens can be accessed only via the passenger ferries. According to St Aubyn Estates, the Mount welcomes as many as 350,000 visitors per year. There are nine passenger ferries which service the island, operating between the end of March and the end of October.

The Mount had two new ferries built, ready for the start of the 2018 season. Happy with the outcome, they decided to produce four more identical boats. However, they wanted to switch boat builders and didn’t have any CAD drawings to work from, as the originals were custom small-scale builds.

Digital Solutions for Naval Architecture – CAD

We were approached by M2ED & St Aubyn Estates to see if we could help them replicate the new passenger ferries. Soon afterwards, we deployed to Mount’s Bay and scanned one of the two existing vessels to gather data for a complete set of CAD construction drawings and models. The combined interior and exterior scan took one day, including confined compartments such as the bilges and lockers. Digital Dry Dock was also able to scan the moulds, all of which made it possible to supply a set of detailed images and full-scale templates so the new builder could quickly understand the construction process.

The Result

Within one month of scanning, M2ED & St Aubyn Estates were supplied with the CAD package of 2D drawings and 3D models they needed to create exact replicates of their new ferries. The Mount then used the digital drawings & models for the build tendering process where, after having an opportunity to review the CAD work, local boat builders were asked to bid for the work. Once a builder was selected, Digital Dry Dock was available on request to supply any additional information needed. For example, to extract measurements from our scan results if there was something the builders were unable to get from the drawings.

St Aubyn Estate is the proud owner of two additional new passenger ferries, with the remaining two set to be ready to service the island in time for the end of this year.

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Digital Dry Dock are proud to take advantage of the Digitisation expertise on offer to Cornish businesses via Unlocking Potential & the E.U.

Digital Dry Dock received a Digital Transformation grant to purchase Cyclone 3DR Software, which enabled the business to create new services.

It is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund

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Why is reverse engineering necessary?

 Before we start, it’s worth considering some of the reasons why reverse engineering may be necessary for boat builders, boat owners and other marine stakeholders. Here are some of the main reasons, all of which our digital laser scanning solutions can help you with:

• Existing designs may be drawn on paper or developed without drawings
• Existing CAD designs may not be accurate
• Existing CAD designs may be missing or lost
• Production moulds may have been bought from original creators without the CAD designs

 Click here to learn more about Digital Dry Dock’s services, and how we can reverse engineer CAD models for your vessel.

Point Cloud over Mesh Model

The Multimarine Project

Redesigning vessels to keep up with the latest trends and technologies is crucial to maintaining Multimarine’s reputation as ‘unique innovative and highly personalised boatbuilders’. On this occasion, our role was to create CAD models of the hull and deck structures of some of their vessels and full CAD models of some of their small production catamarans. These CAD models will now be used to design new variants of the existing craft, so that they can customise and fine tune the original designs.

How was the work carried out?

Ollie visited Multimarine and scanned a mixture of GRP moulds and GRP boats within the same day. He was able to use laser scanners to create digital twins of the vessels and to capture their hull and deck forms. From the point of scanning, the data was processed within two days to create 3D CAD models with an accuracy of less than 3 millimetres.

 What was the alternative to laser scanning?

 Without laser scanning, a skilled draughtsman would have needed to take painstaking manual point measurements along slices through the hull shape at known intervals. They would then ‘loft’ lines and surfaces through them to redraw a very similar representation of the subject. This would take days rather than hours and be far less accurate, regardless of the skill of the draughtsman.

How will Multimarine use these CAD drawings?

Once they received the 2D and 3D CAD drawings, Multimarine were able to design modifications on top of them, to improve the existing vessel design. This means they can create new production moulds, bespoke parts or new customisations with high accuracy and precision.

What did Multimarine have to say?

 “I’d like to thank again the team at Digital Dry Dock for the amazing scanning work we received the other week. We have been looking to digitise a variety of older vessels in our yard that did not have up to date CAD files. 

Ollie Graffy assisted us using scanning gear and point cloud mapping software, providing us with accurate hull and deck models. These models… will allow us to further hull development for resistance and stability assessments, while providing us a basis to develop new interior and deck configurations.”

– Luca, Multimarine Designer

To learn more about how we can help you with reverse engineering CAD designs and much more visit our website. Or get in touch at info@digitaldrydock.co.uk.

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Global supply, demand and shipping schedules amongst other things can often cause complications when sourcing vessel components. Delays on part arrivals can be frustrating, delaying project timelines or holding up port departure dates. Even more so, being unable to source parts at all can create unwelcome headaches for marine stakeholders, especially when the rest of the vessel and crew are ready.

Over the past twelve months Digital Dry Dock has been working to provide a solution to delayed or unavailable vessel parts. Using our 3D laser scanning technology, we are now able to handle everything from measuring and manufacturing to delivery, all within short timeframes.

Rapid supply of vessel components for all marine stakeholders

3D laser scanning presents a solution for shipyards, shipowners, ship operators, shipping agents and yacht agents when in need of rapid supply of custom-made vessel components. Using our state of the art laser scanning technology, we are able to scan complex parts, create precise 3D CAD models and work with our trusted CNC machinist subcontractors to create fit for purpose components in short notice. We are able to organise international logistics and customs clearances to avoid any unexpected delays in the delivery of parts. This process is also available to create components which are no longer manufactured.

Types of component supplied

As long as there is an existing part to work from, or detailed 3D CAD model, we can re create any vessel component. Using hand scanners, sometimes in conjunction with manual measurements and existing 2D drawings, Digital Dry Dock are able to create 3D CAD models with exceptional accuracy. Here are some examples of parts we have scanned and manufactured in recent months, from toilet seats to complex rig and hatch components.

Mast components and fittings

Using Creaform metrology grade scanners, we were able to provide accurate data to Rondal – industry leading superyacht supplier-on a section through a large carbon mast. This included the position of a pair of holes in relation to one another, so they could design parts to fit into the holes on each side of the mast.

In addition, Rondal sent us a 3D CAD model of a complex mast fittings which needed to be manufactured and supplied to a vessel in the Mediterranean. We were able to do so within a tight pre-Christmas timeline.

Electrical Switch Panels

Also, for a classic sailing yacht, Digital Dry Dock was able to make new fascias for the electrical switchboards. By scanning the panel, we were able to create CAD drawings which were used to CNC machine new fascias with correct and updated labelling.

Speeding up delivery timelines

Because we know the nature of the marine industry, we are happy to think outside the box when it comes to delivery timelines. We are able to consider timeframes that most other suppliers would not be able to, because we have developed strong relationships with international couriers and air freight companies. We can pull out all the stops to get a yacht in service at short notice, or go with a trusted conventional courier to keep the costs down. We work with our clients’ priorities and budgets to do everything we can to get a vessel seaworthy in a timeframe that works for them.

If you’d like to see how Digital Dry Dock’s 3D laser scanning services can help your vessel or business, please contact info@digitaldrydock.co.uk.

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It’s great to have our work acknowledged by Leica Geosystems. Follow the link below to see how we are using their amazing instruments and software to solve naval architecture and boat building problems, faster. https://leica-geosystems.com/en-gb/case-studies/reality-capture/digital-dry-dock-20-metre-classic-race-yacht-performance-study  

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Twelve months later and we’re happy to say that the evidence strongly suggests that this was the case. In that time, we’ve worked with dozens of clients across the UK and Europe, created 75 digital twins, and supported numerous vessels with refits, drawings and fit for purpose data.

In fact, at a time where it’s been more difficult than ever to move vessels and to bring teams together to work on naval projects, we feel that 3D laser scanning has proved invaluable. Being able to record, process and present the required data even when vessels are thousands of miles away from the teams working on them, has enabled many of the projects we’ve been a part of to not only continue, but also to make time and cost savings which were previously unseen in the industry.

That being said, we’ve learnt a lot in the last year too. This has enabled us to develop our products, procedures and business operations, whilst also becoming members of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) and beginning to conduct professional training. We’ve also moved into our own offices in Mylor, where we have been able to set up our own hardware and software utility.

We’d like to use this as an opportunity to say a huge thanks to everyone who has been a part of the journey so far. It’s been a privilege to work with a wide variety of fantastic clients on a mixture of military, commercial and private sector vessels. We’re excited for the future and feel more passionate and driven than ever about what we can bring to the future of naval architecture.

If you’d like to learn more about what we do at Digital Dry Dock and how we’re trying to revolutionise naval architecture with our advanced surveying techniques, then please check out the video below.

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These projects are excellent examples of how versatile 3D digital scanning can be. The two vessels we worked on – M.V Conway Castle and Lantic Bay – were in very different locations geographically, one of which required the completion of work within a short time frame.

As naval architects, it’s projects like these which inspired the creation of Digital Dry Dock. We understand that being able to complete work in short time frames without compromising on precision is crucial to effective vessel construction and maintenance operations.

We were able to deploy at short notice and work around normal shipyard operations, meaning that site activities were able to continue whilst we were on site surveying. As a result, both project outcomes included huge time and cost savings for the client, compared to traditional dry dock measuring techniques.

The case studies below provide more information on each of the projects.

Case Study: M.V. Conway Castle

The vessel: The MV Conway Castle is the largest passenger vessel on the River Severn (104 ft), licensed for up to 195 passengers with 2 exterior and 2 interior decks. She was based in Arctic Road Dry Dock in the Isle of Wight earlier this year, when work commenced.

 The job: To provide dimensional data used to facilitate the rapid conversion of the vessel from a passenger river cruise vessel to a high end floating restaurant. Our purpose was to scan her hull and superstructure to produce data used to calculate her stability characteristics. This was to allow the design team to quickly draw up and manage her steelwork modifications, enabling the new superstructure to be built off-site and to the correct size.

The challenges: The project needed to be completed within a short time frame (as soon as possible), with work being split between two different yards. This was necessary to enable the removal of the existing superstructure and the construction of a new one to be carried out simultaneously.

What we did: MV Conway Castle was scanned twice. The first survey of the deck and interior took place in Sharpness (December 2020) whilst the vessel was afloat. Drawings were provided within two weeks, over the Christmas period. The second survey of the hull and superstructure took place in the Isle of Wight dry dock, with drawings provided two days afterwards. Using Digital Dry Dock’s point cloud data, a new superstructure was built in aluminium.

 The outcome: The data collected made it possible to complete stability simulation analysis within a short time-frame before works commenced. Without 3D laser scan data the client would not have been able to build the new superstructure and modifications in a different location to the vessel.

Case Study: Lantic Bay

The vessel: Lantic Bay is a 95ft dredger based in Polruan on the Fowey Estuary. She is owned by C. Toms and Son Ltd and is known as one of the most successful builds of Brazen Island shipyard. Lantic Bay has undergone multiple previous modifications to enable her to move vast quantities of dredged material from Fowey Harbour.

 The job: Working with the shipyard, Fowey Harbour Commissioners and a naval architect to oversee Lantic Bay’s refit and the installation of a new digger mounted on her forward deck. Our role was to scan the hull to provide the basis for updating her stability book and to check if the deck structure was strong enough to support the new digger.

 The challenges: Whilst a relatively straightforward scan, we aimed to complete work within one day whilst navigating the underneath of the vessel, narrow hatchways and ladders.

 What we did: After completing the necessary health and safety checks, we scanned the vessel upon the same slipway she was originally built. 130 scans of the hull were completed within 7 hours using a laser scanner, to produce a digital twin. All scans were carried out without causing any disruption to the yard team or the yard’s workflow. The yard manager was able to see the data on an ipad before we left the site.

 The outcome: Data was available to the client (M2ED Ltd.) within three days of the scanning survey being completed. The data provided a model of the hull and deck of Lantic Bay in a format which could be used to assess the vessel’s stability characteristics and update her stability book. This made it possible to determine how much load she can safely carry, influencing the design of the new digger. Without 3D laser scanning, the client would have been required to spend several days taking manual measurements to produce an estimate of the hull shape, or to rely on original (and potentially outdated) stability data. The overall result was a significant time and cost saving, plus improved accuracy and a better stability book, making for a safer vessel.

 Testimonial: “What they can achieve in a short time period is not only far more accurate than existing techniques, the cost savings are also very significant” – Miles Pinchin, Naval Architect, M2ED Ltd.

Follow this link to watch a ‘Fly-Thru’ movie of the Conway Castle and Lantic Bay data sets…

The post Case Studies: Stability Analysis on 100ft+ Steel Commercial Vessels appeared first on Digital Dry Dock Ltd.

We’re pleased to announce that Digital Dry Dock now has a new permanent office space at Mylor Yacht Harbour near Falmouth. A picturesque marina, located near the heart of the Carrick Roads, it is a beautiful setting with our offices overlooking the busy dockyard.

With views this good, it would be rude not to share. Therefore, we would like to encourage visitors to swing by, take in the scenery, and get to know more about what it is that we do.

Having a permanent base means that we have invested in high-quality equipment to meet our every need, including three excellent computers and a large-scale plotter, which can print even the most complex of boat building templates. We also have a traditional draughting table, drawing chest and a spare work station for visitors. Plus, excellent superfast broadband to facilitate large file transfers over the internet.

And, the good news doesn’t end there. The office is now host to two digital dry dogs, who come to work most days.

If you’d like to arrange a visit, then please get in touch.

Reach Ollie or Ben at info@digitaldrydock.co.uk. Or, call us on +44(0)774 8958299.

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