Joint Venture developing state-of-the-art solutions to address industry challenges
(London and Houston) Industry feedback from shipyards, designers and shipowners on the first draft of the harmonized IACS Common Structural Rules for tankers and bulk carriers (CSR-H) has highlighted their common concerns that the expanded scope of the proposed new Rules could significantly slow the design process and increase associated costs if class societies do not provide more advanced software to handle the required analyses.
The views were expressed at joint IACS-industry seminars in the principal shipbuilding and shipowning centers around the world, held to gather industry input on the new rules.
“As well as harmonizing the existing IACS CSR for tankers and bulk carriers, the CSR-H will provide compliance with the relevant aspects of IMO’s Goal Based Standards requirement, ” said Aidan O’Donnell, Managing Director of CSR Software LLC, (CSRS) the joint development company established in 2011 by ABS and Lloyd’s Register (LR) to provide harmonized structural analysis software to industry. “To assist industry with this change, it is essential that designers be provided with more advanced software, properly aligned with the final rules, that can handle the required analysis and mitigate the time and cost required to determine compliance with the new Rules.”
Shipyards have made it clear that they want to be provided with software that is comprehensive, fast, simple-to-use and defect-free from the outset and CSRS is working closely with industry representatives towards that goal well in advance of the implementation date of the new Rules. One of the lessons learned from the release of the existing CSR for tankers and bulk carriers is the importance of having mature software aligned with the final Rule version before it goes into effect.
“Appropriate software will assist designers in streamlining the process, helping to control costs and manpower requirements when addressing the expanded scope of analysis required by CSR-H, ” said Dhruba Ghose, Operations Director of CSRS. “At CSRS, we are following a rigorous quality process that accounts for requirements traceability through the development life cycle, extensive documentation and user acceptance testing and verification prior to each external release.”
Inevitably the final development of the associated software must lag behind the finalization of the Rules themselves. “Changes to the draft Rules require changes to the software so this is an ongoing project, ” said O’Donnell. “But that does not mean designers cannot work with us to use our in-house capability to run preliminary analyses of developing designs to verify they are on the right track. We have been, and will continue to work closely with industry representatives to make this whole process as easy as possible.”
For the full realization of CSR-H benefits, it is important that the available design analysis software packages produce consistent and reliable results and ultimately common scantlings. This is the impetus for the ABS/LR common software project as it will provide the confidence and standard reference points demanded by shipyards, ship designers and ship owners.
“The first implementation of common Rules with multiple software packages was less than satisfactory and the industry has been clear that they would prefer a more unified approach by class to this issue” said Ghose. “That is why we established CSRS and why we have invited all the other members of IACS to join us as partners. We are encouraged by the level of interest that is being shown by some of the other societies who realize the tremendous cost and effort that is required to develop and maintain their own suite of software.”
About CSR Software LLC
Common Structural Rules Software LLC is a joint venture company established by American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Lloyd’s Register (LR) to provide industry with a validated and verified suite of software tools for CSR, which will meet the concerns of industry about the possibility of different interpretations of the requirements of CSR as a result of the software used in assessment.
About Lloyd’s Register
Lloyd’s Register provides independent assurance to companies operating high-risk, capital-intensive assets in the energy and transportation sectors. We enhance the safety of life, property and the environment by helping our clients to ensure the quality construction and operation of critical infrastructure.
About ABS
Founded in 1862, ABS is a leading international classification society devoted to promoting the security of life, property and the marine environment through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine-related facilities
