Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and Bureau Veritas Collaborate on Advanced 3D Model-Based Classification Project

Bureau Veritas and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding’s 3D Innovation for Ship Design

Bureau Veritas (BV), a global leader in testing, inspection, and certification, has partnered with Mitsubishi Shipbuilding (MSB), part of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, to create a new, faster way of approving ship designs. This project called a Joint Development Project (JDP), is the first time Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has used 3D models instead of traditional 2D drawings for the classification and approval of ships. This partnership was celebrated at the 2024 Gastech conference in Houston.

In the past, ship designers used 2D drawings to get their designs approved. Now, by switching to 3D models, they can speed up the process. The 3D models give a more detailed picture of the ship and help prevent mistakes by acting like a virtual version of the ship. This also reduces the workload for the shipyards by skipping the need to convert 2D drawings into other formats.

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The new 3D model system also helps to improve accuracy, making sure that everyone involved, such as engineers, shipyards, shipowners, and classification societies, is on the same page. This method is especially helpful for MSB, which designs complex ships. The 3D models have shown how much easier and faster the approval process can be, allowing everyone to work together more effectively.

In the first step of the project, MSB sent the 3D ship models to BV using a special format called Open Class eXchange (OCX). BV reviewed these models and gave feedback using its platform called Veristar Project Management (VPM). The comments were directly linked to the 3D models, making it easier to fix any issues. This process allows real-time collaboration through a secure online platform, even when working offline. The platform also ensures that intellectual property rights are protected, and feedback is handled efficiently until the design is fully approved.

This project marks a big step forward in how ships are designed and approved, making the process faster, more accurate, and easier for everyone involved.