SUMMARY OF SHIPYARD TECHNOLOGY
Background of shipyard technology
Port's financial and commercial activities are closely intertwined with the ship building
industry for two reasons: first, most shipyards are managed by port authorities and lease
space from port fleet grows:
The more ships are built, ports are grown and enjoy increased demand for their services.
According to the IMO, The global ocean going merchant fleet exceeds 55,138 ships with a
carrying capacity of 991,173,697GT and 1,483,121,493DWT and an average age of 19
years. 85%. In the global merchant fleet order book ,dry bulk carriers, followed by offshore
containers LNG carriers, and tanker ship (IMO 2012).
The utility of shipbuilding
According to US Maritime administration (MARAD) (2013), shipbuilding play an important
role in the growth of a nation , as it raises the nation’s GDP, employment, and labour
income.
The industry’s economic impacts are :
1. Direct impact
2. Indirect impact
3. Induce impact
• Component of shipbuilding
Traditionally, shipyard undertake three major functions “ shipbuilding, ship repair
and ship scraping “
1. Shipbuilding , Involve the construction of ship hulls and installation of
machinery
2. Ship repair, involve ship alterations, retrofitting programs , engineering
services, dry docking, floating dock repair, and repair/ replace of pipelines,
pumps, and valves; plan maintenance, painting and sand planting e.t.c
3. Ship scraping or recycling , refers to demolishing of an old ship to re produce
it.
The History of shipbuilding
• England has a long history of shipbuilding as it led industrial revolution, that is from
1760 to 1840
• US , 1909 to 1933
• Japan and Europe 1960 to 1992
• 1950’s to 1990’s still Japan and Europe
• In 1970’s south Korea
• Then 2000’s saw Asia, led by China
• As of 2013 , China , South Korea, and Japan are leading the shipbuilding nations
Reasons for shipyard losing market share
The major reasons why shipyard market lose share are
1. Lack of innovation and modernization.
2. Poor production management methods
3. Need for low cost. High labor cost ,poor resources allocation and utilisation
Contemporary Shipbuilding Trends
In the shipbuilding industry this meanst that long established bank and
shipping finance houses could no longer grant their capital for new or second
hand ships .
1. Chinese shipbuilding
China, with 45 % of global market share, runs at least 1647 shipyards, with large scale
production concentrated in 212 major ship yard
2. Korean shipbuilding
South Korea has a 29% market share of global shipbuilding market . Korea’s shipbuilding is
mostly within the private sector, whereas it’s production concentrated in 24 major
shipyards .
3. Japanese shipbuilding
Japan currently has an 18% market share of global shipbuilding market. It operates over
1000 shipyards, predominantly privately owned.
1. MODERN AND ULTRAMODERN SHIPYARD
Shipyard Facilities: The Physical and functional Backbone of shipbuilding and ship
Repair
A shipyards is a highly specialised industrial complex where ships are designed,
constructed, Repaired, and maintained. It represents the culmination of centuries of
Maritime engineering and industrial evolution.
One of the most fundamental facilities in shipyard is the building berth or slipway, which
is an inclined platform where hulls are assembled and launched into water.
Traditional slipways are still used for launching smaller or medium size ships by sliding the
completed hull in to the sea. However, In modern shipyards, especially those constructing
large vessels such as LNG carriers, or cruise ships, dry docks are most common. Dry
docks are massive basins that can be flooded or drained to allow to be floated in or rested
on blocks for constructio and repair
2. PRACTICES IN SHIPYARD TECHNOLOGY
Steel production for ship Hulls
The production of steel for shipbuilding is a fundamental part of the modern Maritime
industry because the hull structure must be strong enough to withstand the severe
stresses encountered at the sea, while remaining sufficiently ductile to absorb local
impacts without catastrophic failure.
MATERIALS USED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION VESSELS AND THEIR
PROPERTIES
1 hull processing and fabrication
2 Sub-Assemblies and unit Fabrication
3 Surface preparation of ship
4 Priming and painting
5 Vessel framing systems
6 Docking and Undocking of VESSELS
• PIPING SYSTEM AND METHODS OF INSTALLING
MACHINERY
1 machinery installation and piping systems in ship
Installation of machinery on board a vessel is one of the most critical phases of ship
construction and outfitting. It involves the placement, alignment, and secure mounting of
the main propulsion plants, auxiliary machinery, deck machinery, and the extensive
network of piping system required to support them .
• INSPECTION LAUNCHING AND TRIAL PROCEDURES FOR
VESSELS
Inspection of ship and machinery before launching and sea trials
Inspection plays a central role throughout the entire ship construction process,
culculminating in a series of final checks before the vessel is launched and undergoes sea
trials. The Inspection regime ensures that all parts of the vessel structural, mechanical,
and electrical comply with the design specifications and meet the standards imposed by
classification societies such as Lloyd’s register, ABS, or DNV-GL .
• Different types of launching
The launching of a vessel is one of the most symbolic and technically delicate milestones
in shipbuilding.
There are several methods used each chosen according to the size and type of the vessel,
yard facilities, and local geography.
Some of this methods are :
1. End-on launching
2. Side launching
3. Floating-out method
4. Airbag method .
• Traditional ship launching ceremony
The launching of a ship is not merely a technical milestones in construction of a vessel but
a profoundly symbolic rite of passage steeped in centuries of Maritime tradition. Ship
ceremonies are powerful cultural events that blend engineering achievement with
spiritual, superstitious, and communal elements.
• Spiritual fortification of the vessel
One of the oldest and most widespread aspects of traditional ship launching is spiritual
fortification a practice that invokes divine protection and good fortune for the vessel and all
who sail on her . In many seafaring cultures, the sea is perceived as both a threat; thus,
launching a vessel without spiritual fortification would be considered inviting bad luck or
disaster.
In Christian Maritime traditions , this is fortification involves prayers and blessings by
clergy, And reading passages from the bible particularly from the book of Psalms. Eg
Psalm 23 , Psalm 121 e.t.c
Breaking of a whisky or Champagne Bottle
During this ceremony, a lady from the family of the othe owner of the vessel is selected as
ship’s sponsor to perform the ritual.
Information required for sea trials
The Information required for sea trials are;
[Link] data.
2. Propulsion details.
3. Fuel and oil consumptions rate.
4. Maneuvering characteristics .
5. Noise and vibration limits.
6. Machinery test parameters.
7. Navigation and communication system
8. Safety certificates.
Introduction to Classification societies
Classification societies are independent, non-governmental organisations that establish
and maintain technical standards for the construction and operation of ships and offshore
structures. There core function is to promote the safety of life and property at sea and the
prevention of marine pollution. They do this by setting rules for ship design, construction,
and maintenance, by verifying that ships comply with those rules through surveys and
inspections, and by issuing classification certificates that are a prerequisite for insurance
and port entry (Taggart,2001).
GLOBAL MARITIME ACADEMY, AGBOWHIAME UGHELLI SOUTH LOCAL GOVT.
AREA, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA
A SUMMARY OF SHIPYARD TECHNOLOGY
BY
IORNONGO HENNEN SHADRACH
GMA/M23/ND/ME/638
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE ENGINEERING
JULY, 2025
GLOBAL MARITIME ACADEMY, AGBOWHIAME UGHELLI, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA
A SUMMARY OF SHIPYARD TECHNOLOGY
BY
TARKAA TERKULA HENRY
GMA/M23/ND/ME/272
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE ENGINEERING
JULY, 2025