DNV has launched its new Nauticus Hull software, which provides unique support for the Common Structural Rules for double hull oil tankers, only three weeks after the Rules were adopted by the Council of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).
Nauticus Hull is a powerful software package for the design and strength assessment of ship structures. It provides a highly efficient environment for ship design, with capabilities ranging from simplified rule-check and scantling calculations to advanced tools for extended calculation procedures, including wave load and finite element structural analysis.
“In an effort to support the industry in connection with the transition to the new rules, DNV has continuously developed its Nauticus Hull software since the joint tanker project was started by DNV, Lloyds and ABS in 2002,” says Wilhelm Magelssen, the head of DNV Maritime’s business and marketing department.
The software, developed in close cooperation with major shipyards in Korea and Japan, has been instrumental in the testing, development and calibration of the new rules. “For the past two years, we’ve distributed an updated version to the yards every 2nd month in order to accommodate their feedback and development directions. We’ve also held frequent workshops with the yards at their premises or here at Høvik in Norway,” remarks Magelssen.
“This has positioned the product well compared to its competition,” says Elling Rishoff, the managing director of DNV Software. “DNV also recently held an extensive training course on the new common structural rules at its Academy in Shanghai. This attracted a wide range of participants from more than 14 Chinese shipbuilding companies. The training was carried out using the Nauticus Hull software suite, facilitating hands-on testing of the new rules.”
“Nauticus Hull’s modern software platform enables us to deliver front-end software for the new tanker rules way before our competitors,” emphasises Rishoff. “We will also continue to develop it to ensure that support for the new bulk carrier rules becomes a permanent part of Nauticus Hull when the rules come into force in April 2006. We have the same ambitions for this development as we have already achieved with the tanker software – Nauticus Hull is to be the premier software for the design and strength assessment of bulk carriers.”
“DNV is now scaling up its operations world-wide to assist its clients in implementing the common structural rules for their upcoming hull development projects,” concludes Wilhelm Magelssen.
