ClassNK’s 3D modelling software, ClassNK-PEERLESS has won a prestigious innovation award at the Lloyd’s List Asia Awards, held this week in Singapore.
The ClassNK-PEERLESS software was created to ease the potential bottleneck ballast water management system (BWMS) retrofit bottleneck that could occur following the anticipated ratification and subsequent entry into force of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) which will catalyse a deluge of existing ships to require the retrofitting of a BWMS.
The increased demand for urgent retrofits could potentially lead to a backlog at shipyards, exacerbated by long design lead times as conventional 3D modelling processes can take up to two weeks, say the classification society. Using high-precision 3D laser scanners, ClassNK-PEERLESS streamlines the process and eliminates the need for direct manual contact as previously required down to two days, alleviating the pressure on shipyards and designers.
Launched in 2014, the software was developed by the Japanese classification society in partnership with University of Toyko, NYK Line, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, “K” Line, Sasebo Heavy Industries,
Sanwa Dock, MTI, S.E.A Systems, Armonicos using outcomes from joint R&D projects, starting in May 2012.
ClassNK-PEERLESS has been used for BWMS retrofits on 27 ships to date.
