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.
