Ship Design

Concept design are all the design activities that are executed before the shipbuilding contract. A concept design project is typically proceeding in different sequential phases described below.

Feasibility project

The feasibility project’s goal is to create the initial vessel design for the ship owner, assessing the required investment and concept feasibility. Using the client’s business plan or basic vessel description, we develop the ship design concept with main dimensions, layout, hull form, and cost estimates to evaluate the technical and commercial feasibility of the concept. Our tools allow quick iteration and presentation for easy alterations, including exploring alternative fuels and prime movers. Following the feasibility phase, a decision is made whether to proceed with project development.

Outline project

The objective of outline project is to prepare the concept to a level suitable for shipyard tendering purposes. This is an important step for any prototype vessel design to ensure consistent and comparable proposals from the shipyards. In the design, general arrangement, ship structures, hull form and all critical systems are brought to a level that accurate pricing can be made. Preliminary consultations with a selected Classification Society and major suppliers occur during this phase. Performance optimization has a high priority in the design, and our digital design toolkit is used to optimize the vessel based on a selected operational profile.

Deltamarin can assist in yard selection, and at the project’s end, the first tender package, typically including an inquiry letter, General Arrangement, Outline Specification, Makers’ List, and Lightweight Summary, is sent to selected shipyards.

Contract project

The objective of the contract project is to develop ship design materials for the shipbuilding contract while at the same time offering technical assistance and consultation during yard proposal evaluation. It typically begins by reviewing bids, creating a shortlist, and arranging technical clarification meetings with selected yards. Concurrently, ship design features are further optimized for efficiency, weight, and fuel consumption. Deltamarin supports the owner in negotiations with the selected yard, aiming to finalize a comprehensive technical specification and supporting documents for the eventual shipbuilding contract.

Basic and detail design phases include all the design activities required to obtain approvals from the authorities for the design to the final production drawings of the vessel. Deltamarin typically offers basic and detail design as a one comprehensive design package, tailored for each specific client’s requirements.

Basic design

The objective of basic design is to obtain approvals from the classification society and authorities while defining technical aspects for main equipment procurement. The selection of manufacturers is important for this stage as makers’ data is integral to the ship’s design.

Basic design is typically ordered by a shipyard after the shipbuilding contract has been made. However, basic design can also be initiated by owners before the shipbuilding contract to mitigate risks, especially for first-of-a-kind vessels with unique ship design features. This approach requires the owner’s involvement in making the classification agreement and selection of main equipment makers, subject to the shipbuilding contract.

Our comprehensive engineering package includes all design disciplines and can also extend to support services.

Detail design

The definition of detail design varies between different shipyards.  In China, detail design incorporates only final vendor data, and yards carry out the production design using their 3D programs. In Europe instead, the detail design extends all the way to production design.

Detailed design scope from Deltamarin is always aligned with the yard’s requirements and practices and it can include all or the selected design disciplines. To provide the best value for the client, Deltamarin typically offers basic and detail design as one engineering package, including all the needed design management services for the client.

Services during construction and commissioning

In addition to providing design services, Deltamarin can support the shipyard and/or the shipowner during the construction and commissioning of the vessel. Typically, some support is needed in cases where either the yard or the owner is building the vessel type in question for the first time. Support package is always tailored specifically for each case, and it can include procurement support, building strategy support, production planning, and assistance in yard capability development services. For the shipowner, we can also provide services for supervision and commissioning.

Services for sailing vessels

Deltamarin can provide wide range of services for sailing vessels. These can range from updating the technical documentation to complete conversion and upgrade engineering packages.

We have a strong track record in providing services for improving safety as well as the energy and environmental performance of the vessels. These types of projects typically include a combination of desk studies and onboard audits to identify and quantify the improvement potential. Training services for the ship crew can also be offered.

We also conduct various types of conversion design projects, please see our reference page for more details of the projects carried out.