The project has received funding from the European’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Contract No.: 769419)

NAVAIS – Sailing ahead

The NAVAIS project, which started on 1 June 2018, discussed its developments as well as its next steps during a meeting of the consortium from 30 September to 2 October in Delft, the Netherlands.

The consortium focused on the results of an extensive market analysis of both performances and dimensions of the worldwide workboat fleet, consisting of more than 8,000 vessels. This analysis resulted in a first workboat product family consisting of three vessels. Furthermore, a first detailed workboat functional decomposition was introduced and in the next steps a consolidation of each function with the respective measure of performance, and its scaling range, will be carried out.

Another main topic was the creation of a tool that can assist a ship designer in selecting the optimal combination of emission-reduction technologies for a specific ship. This tool can be updated with future technological developments or with new emission regulations. The next step is to test the tool on a number of design cases and connecting it to the other tools used in NAVAIS such as the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform.

Finally, the consortium received an update on the developments regarding the platform-based modular product family design procedures and production simulations. NAVAIS will develop the principles and guidelines for modularization (design process and re-use library), for platform based-product families definition, for modular production concept and simulation and finally for approval thanks to the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform added value.

As the meeting was hosted by the Delft University of Technology, it was an unique opportunity to discuss the use of the NAVAIS concept in educational programmes and tools. Emphasis was given on the communication of project results, as well as a continuous dialogue with the most important stakeholders.

The European maritime technology sector generates an annual turnover of € 120 billion and creates more than 500,000 direct jobs and more than 400,000 indirect jobs, primarily for European citizens. However, worldwide competition is fierce, and in order to maintain world-leadership in complex, value-added and highly specialized vessels European shipbuilders must develop tailor-made innovative concepts that are efficient to design and build. NAVAIS will develop a platform-based modular product family approach supported by the 3DEXPERIENCE ® integrated business platform. This concept will increase efficiency in vessel design and flexibility in production networks. NAVAIS will support the transfer from an engineered-to-order business model to an assemble-to-order business model, which will allow shorter process lead-times, constant quality, reduced design and production costs and better integration of the SME supply chain, thereby increasing competitiveness of the European shipbuilding industry.