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Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Shipbuilding / Vessel Construction

Shipbuilding is the construction of ships, which takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, are workers which specialize in vessel construction and repair. The construction of boats is called boat building. Due to the smaller size and scope of the vessels being produced, boats do not necessarily require the full services of a shipyard but may be built in a boatyard or even smaller private facility.

Block construction is a modern shipbuilding method which involves the assembly of prefabricated sections. Cross-sections of the superstructure are pre-built in a shipyard, taken to the building dock (or slipway,) and then hoisted into position and attached. Some of the more equipped shipyards are able to build equipment and utilities into the blocks, pre-installing pipes, plumbing, and electrical cables. The more components that can be built into the blocks before final assembly, the less effort required once the hull is welded together.

Since the 40s, modern ships have been made of welded steel. The first ships produced by this method had problems with inadequate fracture toughness, which let to rare but devastating structural cracks. The development of specialized steel in the 50s has largely eliminated the problem of brittle fracture, although there are still instances due to the unregulated use of grade A and B steel. This problem seems to result when steel with unknown toughness or FATT (fracture appearance transition temperature) is used in side shells. Despite these occasional incidents, most problems with brittle fractures seem to have been eliminated my modern methods and regulation.

Depending on design and materials, vessels reach a point in their lifespan where refitting and repair become impractical or impossible. The demolition of ships is called ship breaking- a process designed to allow materials and components to be reused and recycled. Equipment can often be reused in other ships, and metals (particularly steel) are separated for scrap recycling, with the hulls being discarded in ship graveyards.

Tags: shipbuilding Vessel Construction

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine, Feb. 2, 2025: Dry Dock 1 at PNSY is flooded in preparation for the undocking of USS Cheyenne (SSN 773). Cheyenne has undergone major repairs, structural inspections, and replacements of mechanical and electrical systems. This extensive work, led by the project team, has enhanced the submarines capabilities, ensuring advanced systems are delivered to warfighters at the tip of the spear. (U.S. Navy photo by Jim Cleveland)

SCA’s Paxton Testifies to Congress on Bolstering U.S. Shipbuilding Base

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Copyright Lefteris Papaulakis/AdobeStock

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An exhibition of ship models depicting vessels built by Ailsa Shipbuilding Company Image Courtesy Scottish Maritime Museum

Ailsa Shipbuilding Company Model Collection Debuts

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(Credit:  Asso.subsea)

Asso.subsea Introduces Marine Technology Business Unit

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© icarmen13 / Adobe Stock

Baldwin to Trump: Hold China Accountable for Cheating American Shipbuilders

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Skaramangas Shipyard has serviced 37 ships in the past year, with expectations to double that number in 2025, according to CEO Miltiadis Varvitsiotis. Image Courtesy / Copyright Skaramangas Shipyard https://skaramangas.gr/news-announcements/

Greek Shipyards Revitalized

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Image courtesy FMD/US Navy

FMD’s American Fan wins U.S. Navy Contract

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Jim Towers is Principal in Charge as well as a Senior Naval Architect and Marine Engineer at Elliott Bay Design Group. Image copyright EBDG

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Source: Mitsui E&S

MITSUI E&S Commences Full-Scale Ammonia Two-Stroke Testing

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Transpetro Launches Tender for Eight Gas Tankers

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Fincantieri-EDGE JV Lines Up $520M UAE Navy Support Contract

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