Paperless class approval system on trial

Computer technology company Prostep is cooperating with shipbuilder Meyer Werft and class society DNV GL to hone the technology for use in shipbuilding, particularly in the class approval process. In a pilot project last year, the companies compared paper drawings with 3D PDF documents for the basic design approval of a steel structure.

The technology aims to replace two-dimensional drawings by incorporating three-dimensional information that is already available from computer-aided design (CAD) drawings. Software automatically converts CAD data to a 3D PDF document containing all the information and functions that Meyer Werft and DNV GL need for class approval.

Every document is made up of an enormous amount of data that must be tracked, updated and varying levels of access granted. Prostep noted that allowing for efficient navigation through the model structure was a major challenge.

Meyer Werft and DNV GL will use the technology for the first time on a newbuilding for a Saga cruiseship to be built at Meyer’s Papenburg yard. Until the system is fully validated, 2D drawings will also be provided for class approval.

The aim of the project is to enable class approvals using only 3D drawings.