Astilleros Espanoles, Sener Forge Agreement

Spanish state-owned shipbuilding group Division de Construccion Naval (DCN) has signed a license agreement with Senermar, the Spanish firm of naval architects, for the use of Foran 30, CAD/CAM/CAE systems for ship design and production as well as an agreement for technical collaboration. All DCN yards — Astilleros Espanoles (AESA) Astano H.J. Barreras, Juliana Constuctora Gijonesa, Astilleros Y Talleres De Santander (Astander) and the diesel engine factory Manises Diesel Engine — devoted to new- buildings have been using the Foran general design package since 1993 to carry out tender designs and final stability calculations. It is the first time that AESA has opted for the full Foran V30 system. Two years ago, DCN considered the strategic need for a change in its CAD/CAM/CAE tools. In February 1996, DCN and Sener started discussing the contract, which covers not only the license to use the entire Foran system, but also a technical collaboration agreement to jointly undertake new developments and give fresh technological impetus to DCN through the use of the Foran system. In the short and medium term, Sener and DCN will be working specifically in the area of robotics, assessment of tasks, production data managment and work progress control.