Process of building ships
1. Basic design
Based on the specifications requested by the customer, we determine the loading capacity and speed, and create a design drawing to ensure the requirements are met.
2.Details/production design
We digitize each piece of information and generate a single product drawing to enable accurate processing, manufacturing, and installation at the manufacturing site, and plan so that the huge amount of parts can be easily managed on site.
3. NC plasma cutting
Computer-controlled cutting is performed according to the blueprints to minimize waste materials and cut them fully automatically. It's like a jigsaw puzzle.
4. Bending
Complex curves are bent by skilled workers using the characteristic of steel materials shrinking with gas burners and water.
5. Small assembly
Large ships are also made by assembling and joining small structures. This small unit structure is called a small assembly member. Small assembly refers to the process of making small assembly parts.
6. Large assembly (ship side block)
Attach small assembly parts to a large board to create a large structure. This process is called large assembly. A block is a block that is sized to be suitable for loading with a crane. One block weighs over 100 tons.
7. Large assembly (chimney block)
The chimney is also assembled as a single block at the factory. You can see how big it is compared to the workers. *The photo shows it lying on its side.
8. Painting work
After each block has been welded and inspected, it is thoroughly polished and prepared, then painted and dried in the paint factory.
9. Block transportation
Once the painting is complete, the blocks are placed on a self-propelled 200t transport trolley and transported to the dock, where the loading begins.
10. Boat slip
At the ship's platform, preparations are being made to load the blocks.
11. Equipped with block 1
Block installation has begun. We will install them in order starting from the bottom of the ship and connect them all by welding. The important thing here is to determine the position accurately, and a coordinated play between the ground and the crane is required.
12. Equipped with block 2
It is equipped with a side block with a double side structure. The work is delicate and stressful.
13. Equipped with block 3
The bow block was placed and the face of the ship was completed. Have you ever seen a fish with a face like this somewhere?
14. Equipped with engine
In our case, the engine is installed in three main parts. The photo shows the part that corresponds to the crank mounted, and the propeller shaft connects to the center. In addition to this, various equipment, countless pipes, and electric wires will be mounted and connected. In the world of ships, this work is called rigging.
15. Rudder plate/propeller installation
It is equipped with a rudder plate and a propeller is attached to the tip of the shaft extending from the engine. Although it is usually invisible below the sea surface, it has a very large propeller (6m in diameter).
16. Equipped with a cabin (living area/wheelhouse)
It has a five-story structure starting from the top of the deck, and the top floor is the wheelhouse. There are also rooms for the 24 crew members to spend their long voyages comfortably, a large kitchen/dining room, an exercise room, and a common room, making it look like one building.
17. Hull painting
At the site, the hull is being painted at the welded areas, and the ship is being dressed up for the long-awaited launching ceremony.
18. Launching Ceremony
It uses a sliding (ball) type launch system, which is rare in modern times, and it is very impressive to see the ship sliding down into Hakodate Port with a roaring sound up close. The launch ceremony is open to the public, so please come and see it.
*Due to circumstances, the event may not be open to the public. Please check the website etc.
19. Outfitting work 1
Work will continue even after launch. The photo shows the electrical equipment installed and wired in the wheelhouse. For safe navigation, these must function reliably, so we carefully check them.
20. Outfitting work 2
The interior of the captain's office is under construction.
21. Sea trial run
In the presence of the ship owner and classification society, a test of speed, maneuverability, etc. will be conducted in the actual sea over a period of two to three days.
22. Delivery
It was handed over to the ship owner. The ship set sail after being seen off by many of the workers and people involved in its construction. From now on, she will sail to ports around the world and transport various goods. I wish you all the best on your future voyages.