Integrated Ship Design Tool

The basic idea behind ShipX is to make a platform that integrates all kinds of hydrodynamic analysis into an integrated design tool. By removing the need for file format conversions and re-entering of input for each new program, systematic design studies using highly advanced hydrodynamic analysis tools is fully possible. By integrating all the analysis programs in the same package, systematic design studies can to some extent be automated. When a sufficient number of analysis programs have been added to ShipX, MARINTEK will pursue the extension of ShipX into an integrated design tool.

In addition to the basic functions built into ShipX, like hull geometry manipulation and database operations, advanced functions are added as “Plug-Ins”. The basic functions built into ShipX makes it fast and easy to create new “Plug-Ins”. Currently, plug-ins for seakeeping calculations (Veres program package), and numerical wave resistance calculations (Waveres) are available as “Plug-Ins”. In addition, the new report generator at MARINTEK for analysis of performance tests is developed as a ShipX Plug-In.

ShipX is built upon a STEP-compatible product model implemented in an easily extendable database. The database stores ship and propeller geometries with related results, which can be generated by calculations or by model testing. The storage of results is very flexible, since results can be stored either directly in the internal format or in separate files in a corresponding file structure. ShipX reads a large number of different geometry file formats (DXF, LIN, MGF, AutoShip, AutoHydro, NAPA). Since ShipX is STEP-compatible, it is prepared for exchange of ship data based on the ISO/STEP protocol, which might be the universally adopted standard for exchange of ship data.