BAE Systems uses Paramarine software in the ... - QinetiQ GRC

QinetiQ GRCCase StudyMoD uses QinetiQ GRC’s Paramarine advanced marine designsoftware to certify ship stabilityHMS Duncan, Image by Ian Arthur; © UK MoD Crown Copyright 2011“We use Paramarine because it uses first-principle calculations andits capability has been independently validated. Its ease of audit isvery beneficial, enabling us to audit the work of other organisations,such as the defence contractors or the ship project teams in DE&S.Paramarine provides transparency of audit. We get excellent andhighly responsive support from QinetiQ GRC, which is very open tomodifying Paramarine’s capabilities to satisfy the MoD’s needs.”Steve Marshall, Ship Stability Safety RegulatorSurface Ship Stability & Hydrodynamics GroupSea Systems Group, MoD

QinetiQ GRCAbout the customerThe MoD operates a diverse rangeof ships and submarines worldwide,from nuclear-powered submarinescarrying the UK’s strategic deterrent,to aircraft carriers, frigates, destroyers,minehunters, fleet auxiliaries, patrolcraft and small boats for operationsand adventurous training.For these ships, submarines and othercraft, the Sea Systems Group (SSG),which is part of DE&S, covers navalarchitecture, constructive engineering,and certain specialist areas.This case study covers the use ofParamarine by the Surface Ship Stability& Hydrodynamics Group, which is partof the Sea Systems Group within DE&S.Role within Sea Systems GroupThe scope of the Surface ShipStability & Hydrodynamics Groupis to act as both a regulator andadviser. Its roles include:■■■■provision of technical advice,maintenance of standardsand guidance to ship projects,and Navy Commandsafety regulation of stability andbuoyancy of MoD shipping activitiesExamples of its work include theresponsibility for the managementof hull fouling to optimise fleetfuel consumption, which has savedmany millions of pounds (technicaladvice). In addition, through usingParamarine’s damaged templatecapability on the landing platformdock (LPD), the Group has been able tofacilitate ship compliance with navalstandards, which has removed theneed for expensive ship modification.The Group also carries out regular fleetsurveys to evaluate the watertightand weathertight integrity of ships,and observes inclining experiments todetermine ship displacement, centreof gravity and metacentric height.Key challengesBased on the Group’s primaryfunction of acting as regulator forship stability, the key challenges are:■■■■■■to provide assurance that a shipcomplies with the appropriatestability standardsto ensure that all ships haveappropriate operator guidanceto ensure that the material stateof ships are in an adequate stateto reflect the design standardsHMS Illustrious, Image by Darby Allen; © UK MoD Crown Copyright 2011

Role and value of QinetiQGRC and ParamarineParamarine has been used by the MoDfor many years to support both theSurface Ship Stability & HydrodynamicsGroup and the Surface Ship StructuralGroup within Sea Systems in their work.“We use Paramarine because it usesfirst-principle calculations and itscapability has been independentlyvalidated,” observed Steve Marshall,Ship Stability Safety Regulator, SurfaceShip Stability & Hydrodynamics,Sea Systems Group, MoD.In addition to QinetiQ GRC’sextensive internal testing programme,Paramarine capability has beenvalidated externally at three levels.■■■■■■The MoD commissioned QinetiQMaritime Division to independentlycalculate the stability of geometricships based on first principles.QinetiQ also validated againstthe systems requirementsdocuments (SRD).The MoD performed its ownbenchmark validation usinghistorical ship models.“The Paramarine software is subjectto constant improvement andenhancements, many of which aremade in order to fulfil our needs, reducecosts and improve our processes. Thismeans we have to put each new versionthrough the validation process toensure its integrity,” said Steve Marshall.The nature of the Surface Ship Stability& Hydrodynamics Sea Systems Groupis such that it is constantly seeking toenhance the technical advice it provides,along with refreshing and upgradingstandards. Furthermore, increasingautomation and reducing cost of safetyassurance is high on the agenda. Thismeans that it requires modifications tothe tools it uses such as Paramarine.“We get excellent and highly responsivesupport from QinetiQ GRC, which isvery open to modifying Paramarine’scapabilities to satisfy the MoD’sneeds,” commented Steve Marshall.“Paramarine is easy to use and veryflexible. Its ease of audit is verybeneficial, enabling us to audit thework of other organisations, such asthe defence contractors or the shipproject teams in DE&S. Paramarineprovides transparency of audit.”A good example of improving businessand reducing costs is the developmentof the use of structural loss damagetemplates, which will in time lead toboth residual stability and strengthbeing assessed concurrently. Thiswill bring enormous benefits toboth the design and the salvage andemergency response communities.“In addition to developing structuralloss damage templates, we areengaged in using onboard Paramarineto assist us on a ship fuel optimisationtrial. Paramarine is also integral toour emergency response procedures,”observed Steve Marshall.QinetiQ GRC works very closely withthe MoD to improve Paramarine’sonboard solution, SeaWeigh, whichis used for day-to-day stabilitychecks and decision supportin emergency situations.“Paramarine is a fully validated productwith an extensive range of capabilitiesthat are being enhanced all thetime,” observed Steve Marshall. “Weare continually looking to becomemore efficient and effective in ourprovision of advice and setting ofregulations, and see Paramarine as akey tool in helping us achieve this.”Summary of the benefitsof ParamarineParamarine is based on over20 years’ experience in marinedesign. Thousands of conceptvessels have been modelled andtheir stability analysed usingParamarine. It is used by many ofthe world’s leading shipbuilders,as well as many of the world’sleading universities includingthe Massachusetts Instituteof Technology and UniversityCollege London. It has also beenvalidated for use by the MoD.Paramarine delivers:■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■integration with leading CADpackages such as NXthe capability to deal with alllevels of complexitypowerful real‐time reportingthe capability of converting intoa range of formats for regulatoryreviewhigh degree of in‐use flexibility,giving users total controlfull compliance with all relevantcommercial yacht-buildingregulations and an extensiverange of stability criteriaease of installation and usefast manipulation andcalculation of dataan overall quicker design processsupport from a wide range ofconsulting services“Paramarine is a fully validated productwith an extensive range of capabilitiesthat are being enhanced all the time”

QinetiQ GRCCase StudyMoD uses QinetiQ GRC’s Paramarine advanced marine designsoftware to certify ship stabilityHMS Albion, Image by Darren Macdonald; © UK MoD Crown Copyright 2011“Paramarine is a fully validated product with an extensiverange of capabilities that are being enhanced all the time.We are continually looking to become more efficient andeffective in our provision of advice and setting of regulations,and see Paramarine as a key tool in helping us achieve this.”Steve Marshall, Ship Stability Safety RegulatorSurface Ship Stability & Hydrodynamics GroupSea Systems Group, MoDQinetiQ GRCFroude RoadHaslar Marine Technology ParkGosportHampshirePO12 2AGUKTel: +44 (0) 2392 334003Email: info@grc-ltd.co.ukWeb: www.QinetiQ.com/grc© QinetiQ GRC 2011QGRC034