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NorShipping 2003 Optimized Data Communication at Bergesen Bergesen D.Y. ASA in Norway has, for a long time, tested different commu- nication systems to improve data com- munication between ship and office. Electrical superintendent at Bergesen, Odd Jarle Holtekj0len, confirms that the decision has been made to install CommBox on 16 vessels. "We have test- ed CommBox on vessels with Inmarsat A. Inmarsat B, Inmarsat Fleet 77 and via GSM. CommBox has proven to us that it is a reliable and flexible solution" said Holtekj0len. "We have reduced our NAPA Releases 2003.1 At press time, NAPA Release 2003.1 was scheduled for launch this spring. Efficiency and user-friendliness are promoted by enhancing the availability of the graphic user interface, and by designing tools for entire process- es. For instance, the NAPA Manager process handling tool supplies the user with templates presenting com- plete calculation chains. The new version includes a num- ber of new features, among them a generic optimization tool. NAPA Geometry now supports the renewed inter- active parametric surface definitions. The user can design and choose the parameters desired, as all the main particulars of the ship are always available whenev- er the software is in use. The NAPA Manager, introduced in 2001 for organizing complex tasks, has forged ahead. The software now includes a number of template appli- cations. The NAPA Manager allows experienced users to streamline their work processes in NAPA, and helps new users learn the system quickly. Also included in NAPA's new release are additions to the special features designed to handle the stability analysis of semisub- mersibles, TLPs and other floating offshore structures. Of major significance is the development of a NAPA Manager application to guide the user through the stability evalua- tion process for offshore structures. This Manager appli- cation features special treatment of wind moment calcu- lations, including the effect of underwater drag coeffi- cients and thruster forces for dynamically positioned units. Streamlined process in probabilistic damage stability: As the entire process is visible, the application itself serves as a guide for the user. Here we see the NAPA Geometry Window with up to four separate, graphic areas and OpenGL graphics. A model used for wind moment calcu- lations is shown (left), as well as a sur- face used in one pontoon (lower right) and the sectioned hull object used in stability calculations (upper right). K|||jB NAPA Steel Enhancements Many new features of the NAPA Steel system, developed to increase the speed of modeling at the early stages of ship structural design, are also being introduced in con- junction with Release 2003.1. NAPA Steel can efficiently build a ship model of any ship type within 100-200 work- ing hours. The system offers a wide variety of output pos- sibilities. For instance, steel weight, welding lengths and production planning data can be calculated for the whole vessel, building blocks or for any other group of struc- tures. The model can also be output to any FEM system as surfaces or nodes and elements. Among the newest features of the NAPA Steel system are a number of interfaces made to support the flow of data between NAPA Steel and other software systems, such as Tribon Hull and Nupas-Cadmatic. Interfacing with some classification societies' systems is also available. The new NAPA Steel - Tribon Hull interface produces Tribon schema from the NAPA Steel model. Details, such as cut-outs and corner notches, are added by the interface, based on organization-specific design rules. One of the benefits of the interface is that detail design is less prone to errors when it is based on a 3-D model from the start. The interface produces the basis for the detail design model for the whole vessel, and thus there will be no differences in modelling styles for one designer to another. Experiences gained so far have been very encouraging, showing that use of the interface can lead to significant time savings. The NAPA Steel - Nupas-Cadmatic interface is currently under development at Numeriek Centrum Groningen. For more information on this new release Circle 197 on Reader Service Card NAPA Steel improves efficiency of the whole design process through the uti- lization of a 3-D model in early struc- tural design. data communication cost with 65 to 70 percent on our pilot vessels. Taken in account the improved stability of estab- lished calls almost without failures the reduction of cost in some areas can be even more." Managing Director Morten Aasen at Virtek Communication says having Bergesen as its customer is a major acknowledgement for Virtek. CommBox is a combined cost efficient E-mail server with a TCP/IP router designed for satellite communication. CommBox allows applications to use the link for mail transfer, file transfer and database replication. Circle 196 on Reader Service Card SES Electrical Sees Bright Future Sustained interest in diesel-electric propulsion and advanced power genera- tion solutions for smaller ships is reflected in the projects completed or planned in the past year by Bergen- based Scandinavian Electric Systems (SES). Typifying the wide scope of SES' capabilities is a system due for delivery in the first half of 2003 for a DNV-classed, dynamically-positioned, seismic vessel for Volstad Shipping, Norway. SES was assigned to execute a complete study, engineering, harmonic calculations and commissioning of a 690V/60Hz installation embracing the following main elements: two 3,450kVA/720 rpm water-cooled IP54 generators; two 2,000kVA/900 rpm water-cooled IP54 generators; two com- pass thruster drive motors (each 2,000kW S1 1,800 rpm) with AC drives; one propulsion motor (2,500kW SI 1,200 rpm) with AC drive; and one side thruster motor (2,000kW VI SI 900 rpm). Among significant current commit- ments at SES is a system for a tanker building in Turkey for the Turkish owner Furtrans. Due for delivery in March 2003, the DNV-classed installation will embrace a combined diesel-electric and take-me- home power solution (based on a 660kW/1,200 rpm IP23 AC motor and AC-inverter active front- end drive) and a 400kVA/1,800 rpm generator serving one shaft line. Circle 195 on Reader Service Card Tribon M2 Enhanced Again Service Pack 3 of the Tribon M2 Shipbuilding system was released in early April, a version that includes fur- ther improved production information in the Assembly and Weld Planning applications and the new function Recording of Walk Tiirough Paths in the Design Manager application. A new method for calculation of weld joints works more than 10 times faster than the previous version. The new version of the Assembly Planning application is delivered with Service Pack 3. Tribon M2 Assembly Planning helps define the vessel build strategy and create assem- bly production information, and also supports various activities in the work preparation and production engineering area. Both the production structure of a vessel, and the assembly structure, can be defined and maintained with Assembly Planning. An example from Tribon M2 Assembly Planning showing a subassembly during the planning work. Tribon M2 Weld Planning A completely new method tor automat- ic detection of weld joints has been implemented in the new version of the Tribon M2 Weld Planning application. Weld Planning also has a new user interface. A new method for calculation of weld joints works more than 10 times faster than the previous version. This new solution, based on the Tribon core technology, replaces the standard solid geometry method previously used. Recording of Walk Through Paths A new function in the Tribon M2 Design Manager application is the Recording of Walk Through Paths. A walk-through in the ship model (Tribon PIM) can now easily be recorded and replayed. The recording is stored as a standard avi file format. The recorded walk through path can then easily be distributed to other design departments and offices to be displayed which sim- plifies the design reviews. Walk-throughs can be used to present a ship arrangement in an efficient way. Circle 194 on Reader Service Card May, 2003 39
