Modularity: Facilitator for Commercial Shipyards in Naval Shipbuilding

Abstract

Modularity in the design and construction of naval vessels is considered wherein functional naval system-module installations that provide basic ship structure and ship interfaces are permanently integrated in an otherwise conventional ship envelope during construction. Consideration is given to a paradigm shift consisting of a ship envelope constructed by a primarily commercial shipbuilder, which is then transferred to a naval shipyard integrator for completion, including insertion of those modules which are purely naval mission-oriented. In the context of such consideration, the competitive practices of international commercial shipbuilders, particularly related to large passenger ships, suggest a potential application to naval vessels.