Seaspan Contracts ShipConstructor CAD/CAM on Non-Combat Portion of Canada’s FFR

Seaspan (Vancouver and Victoria Shipyards) will be using ShipConstructor CAD/CAM software on the non-combat portion of Canada’s Federal Fleet Renewal (FFR) contract.

Under the original award, Seaspan will be building up to seven vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard. Those vessels include two Joint Support Ships, one Polar Icebreaker, three Offshore Fisheries Science vessels and one Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel.

The use of ShipConstructor is natural for rebuilding the Canadian fleet since it emulates the practice of Canada’s closest ally. The overwhelming majority of US Navy and Coast Guard vessels planned for construction are being detail designed and 3D modeled in the ShipConstructor application, making ShipConstructor the de facto standard for North America.

The demanding schedule for Seaspan means that a solution will have to be implemented quickly and it will be easier to find a significant group of experienced ShipConstructor users than it would be to find people with knowledge of different software. ShipConstructor has the added advantage of being based on AutoCAD so if new users have industry knowledge and basic AutoCAD skills, they can be trained to use ShipConstructor in only a few weeks.

An additional advantage is that ShipConstructor Software Inc. has a partnership with Seaspan’s ERP software supplier, IFS, which will help ensure the continuity between design and engineering processes that are so essential to efficient shipbuilding processes.

Seaspan’s usage of the software will be supported by ShipConstructor’s Canadian dealer NAVWARE CANADA Inc., whose mission is to provide best of breed innovative software and top-quality consulting services to the offshore and marine community.

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Press Release, October 28, 2012; Image: SSI