For their proposed 11 new Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC), the US Coast Guard has asked designers to provide them with a 3D product model that is compatible with ShipConstructor.
The OPC RFP document J-4 Statement of Work for Detail Design, paragraph 085.5.2 says that, “The 3D Product Model shall be provided in either ShipConstructor or an ISO 10303 Step compliant system that is exportable to ShipConstructor.”
“We believe this is recognition of the fact that our software has become the de facto North American standard for detail design of ships,” says Michael Viala, Sales and Marketing Manager for SSI , the developers of the AutoCAD based ShipConstructor application . “It is also an acknowledgement that a ShipConstructor 3D product model can assist the Coast Guard in cost savings throughout the life of a vessel.”
The new RFP requirement is a natural evolution for the US Coast Guard since their National Security Cutters (NSC) and Fast Response Cutters (FRC) are already built in ShipConstructor software. Additionally, almost all potential bidders on the OPC project already utilize the program.
The Coast Guard is currently using ShipConstructor generated 3D models to review the progress of construction on the NSC and FRC projects and the Coast Guard plans to use data from as-built 3D product models to help provide lifecycle support.
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ShipConstructor, December 4, 2012; Image: USCG