Q<strong>in</strong>etiQ <strong>GRC</strong>About <strong>the</strong> customerThe MoD operates a diverse rangeof ships and submar<strong>in</strong>es worldwide,from nuclear-powered submar<strong>in</strong>escarry<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> UK’s strategic deterrent,to aircraft carriers, frigates, destroyers,m<strong>in</strong>ehunters, fleet auxiliaries, patrolcraft and small boats for operationsand adventurous tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g.For <strong>the</strong>se ships, submar<strong>in</strong>es and o<strong>the</strong>rcraft, <strong>the</strong> Sea <strong>Systems</strong> Group (SSG),which is part of DE&S, covers navalarchitecture, constructive eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g,and certa<strong>in</strong> specialist areas.This case study covers <strong>the</strong> use of<strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong> by <strong>the</strong> Surface Ship Stability& Hydrodynamics Group, which is partof <strong>the</strong> Sea <strong>Systems</strong> Group with<strong>in</strong> DE&S.Role with<strong>in</strong> Sea <strong>Systems</strong> GroupThe scope of <strong>the</strong> Surface ShipStability & Hydrodynamics Groupis to act as both a regulator andadviser. Its roles <strong>in</strong>clude:■■■■provision of technical advice,ma<strong>in</strong>tenance of standardsand guidance to ship projects,and Navy Commandsafety regulation of stability andbuoyancy of MoD shipp<strong>in</strong>g activitiesExamples of its work <strong>in</strong>clude <strong>the</strong>responsibility for <strong>the</strong> managementof hull foul<strong>in</strong>g to optimise fleetfuel consumption, which has savedmany millions of pounds (technicaladvice). In addition, through us<strong>in</strong>g<strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong>’s damaged templatecapability on <strong>the</strong> land<strong>in</strong>g platformdock (LPD), <strong>the</strong> Group has been able tofacilitate ship compliance with navalstandards, which has removed <strong>the</strong>need for expensive ship modification.The Group also carries out regular fleetsurveys to evaluate <strong>the</strong> watertightand wea<strong>the</strong>rtight <strong>in</strong>tegrity of ships,and observes <strong>in</strong>cl<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g experiments todeterm<strong>in</strong>e ship displacement, centreof gravity and metacentric height.Key challengesBased on <strong>the</strong> Group’s primaryfunction of act<strong>in</strong>g as regulator forship stability, <strong>the</strong> key challenges are:■■■■■■to provide assurance that a shipcomplies with <strong>the</strong> appropriatestability standardsto ensure that all ships haveappropriate operator guidanceto ensure that <strong>the</strong> material stateof ships are <strong>in</strong> an adequate stateto reflect <strong>the</strong> design standardsHMS Illustrious, Image by Darby Allen; © UK MoD Crown Copyright 2011
Role and value of Q<strong>in</strong>etiQ<strong>GRC</strong> and <strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong><strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong> has been used by <strong>the</strong> MoDfor many years to support both <strong>the</strong>Surface Ship Stability & HydrodynamicsGroup and <strong>the</strong> Surface Ship StructuralGroup with<strong>in</strong> Sea <strong>Systems</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir work.“We use <strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong> because it <strong>uses</strong>first-pr<strong>in</strong>ciple calculations and itscapability has been <strong>in</strong>dependentlyvalidated,” observed Steve Marshall,Ship Stability Safety Regulator, SurfaceShip Stability & Hydrodynamics,Sea <strong>Systems</strong> Group, MoD.In addition to Q<strong>in</strong>etiQ <strong>GRC</strong>’sextensive <strong>in</strong>ternal test<strong>in</strong>g programme,<strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong> capability has beenvalidated externally at three levels.■■■■■■The MoD commissioned Q<strong>in</strong>etiQMaritime Division to <strong>in</strong>dependentlycalculate <strong>the</strong> stability of geometricships based on first pr<strong>in</strong>ciples.Q<strong>in</strong>etiQ also validated aga<strong>in</strong>st<strong>the</strong> systems requirementsdocuments (SRD).The MoD performed its ownbenchmark validation us<strong>in</strong>ghistorical ship models.“The <strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong> <strong>software</strong> is subjectto constant improvement andenhancements, many of which aremade <strong>in</strong> order to fulfil our needs, reducecosts and improve our processes. Thismeans we have to put each new versionthrough <strong>the</strong> validation process toensure its <strong>in</strong>tegrity,” said Steve Marshall.The nature of <strong>the</strong> Surface Ship Stability& Hydrodynamics Sea <strong>Systems</strong> Groupis such that it is constantly seek<strong>in</strong>g toenhance <strong>the</strong> technical advice it provides,along with refresh<strong>in</strong>g and upgrad<strong>in</strong>gstandards. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gautomation and reduc<strong>in</strong>g cost of safetyassurance is high on <strong>the</strong> agenda. Thismeans that it requires modifications to<strong>the</strong> tools it <strong>uses</strong> such as <strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong>.“We get excellent and highly responsivesupport from Q<strong>in</strong>etiQ <strong>GRC</strong>, which isvery open to modify<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong>’scapabilities to satisfy <strong>the</strong> MoD’sneeds,” commented Steve Marshall.“<strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong> is easy to use and veryflexible. Its ease of audit is verybeneficial, enabl<strong>in</strong>g us to audit <strong>the</strong>work of o<strong>the</strong>r organisations, such as<strong>the</strong> defence contractors or <strong>the</strong> shipproject teams <strong>in</strong> DE&S. <strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong>provides transparency of audit.”A good example of improv<strong>in</strong>g bus<strong>in</strong>essand reduc<strong>in</strong>g costs is <strong>the</strong> developmentof <strong>the</strong> use of structural loss damagetemplates, which will <strong>in</strong> time lead toboth residual stability and strengthbe<strong>in</strong>g assessed concurrently. Thiswill br<strong>in</strong>g enormous benefits toboth <strong>the</strong> design and <strong>the</strong> salvage andemergency response communities.“In addition to develop<strong>in</strong>g structuralloss damage templates, we areengaged <strong>in</strong> us<strong>in</strong>g onboard <strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong>to assist us on a ship fuel optimisationtrial. <strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong> is also <strong>in</strong>tegral toour emergency response procedures,”observed Steve Marshall.Q<strong>in</strong>etiQ <strong>GRC</strong> works very closely with<strong>the</strong> MoD to improve <strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong>’sonboard solution, SeaWeigh, whichis used for day-to-day stabilitychecks and decision support<strong>in</strong> emergency situations.“<strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong> is a fully validated productwith an extensive range of capabilitiesthat are be<strong>in</strong>g enhanced all <strong>the</strong>time,” observed Steve Marshall. “Weare cont<strong>in</strong>ually look<strong>in</strong>g to becomemore efficient and effective <strong>in</strong> ourprovision of advice and sett<strong>in</strong>g ofregulations, and see <strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong> as akey tool <strong>in</strong> help<strong>in</strong>g us achieve this.”Summary of <strong>the</strong> benefitsof <strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong><strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong> is based on over20 years’ experience <strong>in</strong> mar<strong>in</strong>edesign. Thousands of conceptvessels have been modelled and<strong>the</strong>ir stability analysed us<strong>in</strong>g<strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong>. It is used by many of<strong>the</strong> world’s lead<strong>in</strong>g shipbuilders,as well as many of <strong>the</strong> world’slead<strong>in</strong>g universities <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<strong>the</strong> Massachusetts Instituteof Technology and UniversityCollege London. It has also beenvalidated for use by <strong>the</strong> MoD.<strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong> delivers:■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■<strong>in</strong>tegration with lead<strong>in</strong>g CADpackages such as NX<strong>the</strong> capability to deal with alllevels of complexitypowerful real‐time report<strong>in</strong>g<strong>the</strong> capability of convert<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>toa range of formats for regulatoryreviewhigh degree of <strong>in</strong>‐use flexibility,giv<strong>in</strong>g users total controlfull compliance with all relevantcommercial yacht-build<strong>in</strong>gregulations and an extensiverange of stability criteriaease of <strong>in</strong>stallation and usefast manipulation andcalculation of dataan overall quicker design processsupport from a wide range ofconsult<strong>in</strong>g services“<strong>Paramar<strong>in</strong>e</strong> is a fully validated productwith an extensive range of capabilitiesthat are be<strong>in</strong>g enhanced all <strong>the</strong> time”
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