Traditional OUTFITTING VS Current OUTFITTING on Ships

1. Introduction
    If shipyards wish to become successful and competitive in the world shipbuilding market, they have to build quality ships along with decreasing costs of the production process and shortening of delivery time of the ship.  hortening the time of the shipbuilding process by using the modular outfitting concept is one way of reducing total ship production time, thus improving efficiency and cost performance.
    Advanced outfitting may be regarded as fitting to the ship structure, before and after erection, on the building berth, of outfit items as a significantly early time in the building sequence. The concept can be categorised into three types, namely:

• on unit
• on block
• on board (either on berth or afloat).

Hot outfitting, such as welding work, takes place before the ship is painted. Cold outfitting is the addition of parts after the ship is painted.

2. Outfitting
A.  Traditional Practice
     In the past, the tendancy has been to separate various trades and to commence outfitting only after a significant proportion has been erected. The principal features is this mode of work where the ship spending a relatively short time at the assembly/fabrication stage and comparatively long periods on the building berth and in the basin.

2.1 Traditional Sequence of Production Events

     Typical steps for accommodation Outfitting in 1n the past  work following approximate completion of steelwork as listed below: 

1. make pipe/trunk/electrical penetrations
2. fair buckled plate
3. install airports/windows
4. perform hose testing
5. paint steelwork
6. fit insulation/wiring/ducts pipes
7. fit joiner partitions/bulkheads
8. install plumping fixtures
9. lay floor covering
10. install built-in furniture/doors/fixtures
11. complete painting
12. fit carpets/curtains
13. install portable furniture.

Although it appears simple, this manner of work has a number of disadvantages
associated with it:
(1) longer build time
(2) uneven labour requirement
(3) larger space requirements
(4) extensive re-work
(5) uncomfortable work environment
(6) difficult to plan
(7) access problems

B. Current Practice
    The commercial situation today is gloomy and compoetition between shipyards is fierce. From a financial viewpoint there is pressure on the yards to maintain lower levels of stock. There is a need to reduce production time and increase productivity. This has been the primary factor enhancing the use of advanced outfitting. The approach is illustrated in Figure 2.1. The main features of the work are relatively longer time in the fabrication and module shops and relatively short times on the berth and in the wet basin.

Figure 2.2. Current Sequence of Production Events

    The concept advanced outfitting  can be categorised into three types,
1. On-Unit
“On-unit” advanced outfitting involves construction of packages of equipment on bundles of pipe and other systems on a common foundation. The work is performed in a shop environment. The packages will typically include utilised foundations and/or support bases, equipment, small tanks, pipe fittings, controllers, electric cables, etc. and are almost completely painted. Where required and possible, the packages are tested before installation “on-block” or “on-board”.

2.3 Pipework package

2.4 Pipework Module

2. On-Block
“On-block” advanced outfit involves installation of “units” (or equipment modules), pipe bundles, foundations, etc on a structural assembly before it is erected on the building berth. Structural assemblies may be erected as assemblies or joined to other assemblies/modules to form an erection module.

2.5 Aft Engine Room Module

2.6 Cabin Module

3. On-Board
“On-board” advanced outfitting consists of installing “units” or individual pieces of equipment into the ship as it is on the building berth or afloat. a pre-outfitted cabin which is ready to be installed on the ship. A special approach here is the “open deck” or “blue sky” method: a complete compartment such as a machinery space is left open (with the deck off) until all the equipment is installed.

2.7 “Blue Sky” Outfitting

The possible restrictions and requirements for implementation are:

• number of berths or dock time may be limited (economic problem as to whether hull erection sequence modified or launch date delayed to facilitate outfitting).
• a limited launch weight or overall distribution of weights (eg. main engines, accommodation block, etc).
• limited crane capacity (eg. in the case of heavy machinery or complete deck house).
• sub-contractors items required at much earlier stage.
• large storage areas may be required to complete outfitting and painting prior to erection.
• dependent on early and efficient planning and a good liaison between hull steel and outfit departments in order to integrate the two functions.