Today, Fibre-Reinforced Polymers (FRP) materials are extensively used for building lightweight hull structures of vessels with length up to about 25 m. FRP are also used for even larger lengths (up to 50 m). In fact, most of the leisure craft and sailing yachts, naval ships, patrol and rescue vessels below 25 m length are built in FRP materials.
However, the production capacity in numbers of FRP ships does not achieve its full potential due to high total production costs. One of the main reasons for this limitation is the lack of automated procedures, and the current semi-artisanal methods used in FRP shipbuilding.
In order to further expand the competitive position of the European shipbuilding industry, in particular small and medium size shipyards, it is essential to improve and optimise the production processes for FRP ship parts.
The main objective of the FIBRE4YARDS project was to maintain European global leadership in ship building and maintenance, through the implementation of the Shipyard 4.0 concept in which advanced and innovative manufacturing technologies are successfully introduced. FIBRE4YARDS implemented a cost-efficient, digitized, automated and modular vessel production approach.
FIBRE4YARDS focused on the entire value chain (shipyards and their ecosystem) cooperatively working on small and medium length fibre-based ships in a digital environment.
The main objective of the project was achieved by:
- Introducing smart and secure engineering, manufacturing and data sharing concepts in ship production.
- Embedding advanced and highly automated FRP production technologies in the Shipyard 4.0 while applying these technologies in ship production, maintenance and dismantling.
- Developing and validating new digitalized engineering and analysis simulation solutions to support modular ship design and construction in the Shipyard 4.0 concept.
- Facilitating industrial deployment of the FRP Shipyard 4.0 by providing guidelines for design, production, certification, and staff training.
- Developing business plans and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) strategies for shipyards.
