THE SHIP BUILDING STORYBuilding a 50.500 DWT general cargo carrier with 4 cargo deck cranes and

piggy back hatch covers takes approximately 9 months from steel cutting of

the first steel plate to the signing of protocol of delivery of acceptance of the

vessel by the owner.

The ship is constructed like a jig saw puzzle, consisting of approximately 196 blocks

including deck cargo crane and cargo hold hatch covers. The weight of the blocks ranges

from 2 mtons to 142 mtons.

To supervise the construction process of our new vessels, Grieg Star sends a site team

consisting of internal sea-going staff (Senior Officers and Electro Technicians) as

supervisors, and some selected external supervisors hired by the company to the ship

yard. Our current site team consists of 11 to 15 members. The number of supervisors will

be reduced at a later stage when the majority of ships are delivered.

The construction process is divided into 4 stages:

1. The block stage

2. The pre-erection stage

3. The erection stage

4. The quayside and commissioning stage.

Stage 1

Cut and formed steel plates and steel beams are welded together to form the block

portion of the vessel. The blocks are not completed until the supervisors are called for

sub-assembly and final block inspection and accept them.  It takes almost 500 inspection

items to complete all the blocks and pipings of the ship.

Stage 2

Blocks are joined/welded together at a suitable weight within the capacity of the

shipyards crane to carry. This is also the stage where the machineries for engine room

blocks, forward blocks for deck machinery and bow thruster etc. equipment in deck

houses and other outfittings are installed. It takes about 80 inspection items for the

supervisors to complete the pre-erection stage. During this stage, the keel of the vessel

will be ready to be laid in the dry dock. It takes 4 months from steel cutting to keel laying

of the vessel.

Stage 3

Blocks are now joined together in the dock and seated on the dock keel blocks which are

arranged according to hull form or docking plan and then welded.  Main engine, auxiliary

engines, steering gears are then erected, followed by rudder and propeller. The weather

deck hatch covers, tween decks and cargo deck cranes are erected, the hull markings

such as draft marks, freeboard marks, bottom markings, anchor chain markings etc. are

confirmed to be correctly installed. The principal dimension of the ship i.e LOA, LBP,

depth, breadth and level of keel are measured. The erection from keel laying until set to

float takes approximately 60 days.

Stage 4

This is the busiest part of construction process.  Commissioning engineers, paint workers,

welders, yard sea trial team or test engineers, supervisors, ship stores suppliers, owner

superintendents, class surveyors, and ship’s crew – everyone is rushing to beat the clock

to complete their respective tasks before the sea trial and ship delivery.

There are approximately 406 inspection items (i.e. test of equipment, installation,

welding etc.) to complete the erection stage and commissioning until the delivery of the

vessel.  The monitoring of the painting of the ship takes approximately 1,055 inspection

items.  In addition comes the constant monitoring by supervisors collecting unscheduled

inspection comments and confirming that these are carried out accordingly. The site

team consists of a Hull Supervisor, Machinery Supervisor, Electrical Supervisor, Paint

Supervisor – everyone with clear responsibilities for their respective areas.

Time to test!

The sea trial lasts for 2 days and takes place between 20 to 30 days before ship’s

delivery. The ship is delivered approximately 2 months and 15 days after she was first

set afloat. The ship’s crew starts arriving one month ahead of delivery and are all in place

onboard in time for formal delivery.