Shipbuilding Today

Gone are the days of wooden sailing ships, crafted out of hand-hewn timbers, often at hazardous and exposed worksites. Modern shipbuilding is leading the way in the utilization of fast-paced, technologically advanced, production environments.

Ship building today is less about physical work than skilled labour.  Welding is done using pulse controlled machines, indexed by laser to affect high quality dimensional output. Completed panels, bulkheads, and decks are assembled as modules. Modules are fit out with complex arrays of wiring, plumbing, internal works, and in some cases, cabinetry and furnishings. Modules are then merged to form a completed ship.

Watch the following video...

Ships are no longer restricted to being built on the waterfront on massive slipways to facilitate launching. Shipyards are now configured around economic and environmental considerations, lifting capacities, and civic sight lines (which often have tremendous impact on what, where, and how the ship is built and assembled).

Shipyards are complex facilities involving numerous assembly stages in several locations. At some point all of these stages culminate in one location to assemble the final product, usually under cover and out of the elements. The lifts and transport associated with shipbuilding encompass some of the largest objects of our modern world. Lift capacities as well as dimensional alignment and tolerances, are often at the very maximum capability of many dry docks and transport hoists.

While the time lapse video below shows the construction of an Austrailian research vessel, the RV Investigator, it illustrates how ships are built in pieces and then assembled.

Adding to these massive undertakings is the challenge of building faster and more efficiently.

Processes and Safety in Shipbuilding

Production shipyards are constantly seeking out new processes to improve production efficiencies and working conditions.

Work safety is a priority at most shipyards because of the potential costs in both human and financial terms.  In human terms injury or death on the worksite is devastating for all those involved.  In financial terms the loss of a critical skills set leads to reduced productivity and the ability to compete in global markets. 

Work safety is a theme that we will return to again and again in this course because it is such a priority for shipyards today.

Quiz Questions

Q. Today employers in the ship building industry are looking for:

A. Employees who are physically strong

B. Employees who have grade 12

C. Employees who will do as they are told

D.  Employees who have a skilled trade

Q. Production shipyards are constantly:

A. Looking for new contracts

B. Expanding their facilities

C. Cultivating partnerships

D. Looking to improve production efficiencies

Q. Work safety is a priority for shipyards because:

A. Safety procedures reduce costs, both human and financial

B. Safety is legislated

C. Safety procedures avoid legal responsibility

D. Work safety is not as important as workplace efficiency