Shipbuilding

The shipbuilding industry is currently facing a myriad of challenges driven by intense efficiency and sustainability demands of ship owners, the authorities, and the shipping industry. The following are key shipbuilding challenges that the industry is grappling with and to which solutions are required for the long-term prosperity of the sector.

• Intense competition and price pressure: Excess shipbuilding capacity has led to intense competition, making profitability elusive. Evolving regulations concerning emissions and environmental concerns have raised building and operating costs, compelling shipbuilders to innovate their designs.

• Regulatory uncertainty: Uncertainty surrounding the implementation of new regulations has led shipowners to delay fleet renewal investments.

• Technological advancements: The industry's shift to alternative fuels like ammonia, methanol, biofuels, and battery systems has added complexity and cost. Additionally, technological advancements such as autonomous ships and digitalization require shipyards to invest in research and development.

• Shortage of skilled workers: The industry faces a shortage of skilled workers, particularly in specialized areas such as naval architecture, welding, and electrical engineering.

• Resistance to change: There is a psychological resistance to adopting new technologies, particularly among experienced workers and senior management.

• Lack of standardization: Integration challenges arise from the lack of standardization in software and processes across different shipyards and projects.

Digitalization drives down costs, improves efficiency and enhances sustainability

Several of the above shipbuilding challenges can be met by combining human talents and cutting-edge digital tools, thereby promoting sustainable and efficient shipbuilding processes. This human-centered design concept not only improves operational resilience and sustainability, but it also assures that technology complements human capabilities, accelerating the evolution of shipbuilding.

By combining AI, AR/VR, and digital twin technologies in the shipbuilding industry, we blur the distinction between the digital and physical worlds. Technologies that enable seamless data integration throughout the ship design, manufacturing, and lifecycle management processes are required. This integration promotes green initiatives and sustainability goals, boosting the industry's transition to non-fossil fuels and sustainable practices.

Facing shipbuilding industry challenges head-on with a data-driven approach

Cadmatic provides specialized CAD and PLM tools tailored to the unique challenges of and requirements for the shipbuilding industry. These tools manage intricate geometries, system integration, and component management, ensuring user-friendly 3D design software with streamlined workflows and reliability.

Our data-driven shipbuilding approach and solutions focus on minimizing manual data handling, reducing errors, and ensuring accurate and detailed designs.

By providing a higher degree of accuracy in initial designs, Cadmatic helps shipyards hedge material costs and bring a greater level of detail and understanding of costs early in the design process, while our 3D modelling tools improve the understanding of designs between shipyards and classification societies, facilitating better collaboration and reducing errors.

We integrate augmented reality and AI to enhance visualization and assist in the ship design process, supporting the attraction of new talent to the industry. By optimizing designs and minimizing waste, digital tools contribute to increased sustainability in shipbuilding.

Embrace digitalization for a prosperous shipbuilding future

By embracing digitalization and investing in specialized tools, shipyards can achieve enhanced efficiency, reduce costs, and improve sustainability, propelling the shipbuilding industry towards a more efficient and sustainable future.