NEWS


also made extensive use of QinetiQ’s facilities includ- ing its unique and specialised SMERAS equipment and bespoke evaluation soſtware. “QinetiQ made a big contribution towards our


delivering to the Italian Navy. QinetiQ supported us throughout the submarine escape system review process acting as our independent advisor. Te Italian Navy were also very satisfied with their work. In our view QinetiQ’s combination of knowledgeable, experienced and motivated staff with their extensive range of testing equipment and facilities make them the partner of choice in the area of submarine safety and escape systems,” said Mario Palmieri, Lead Project Engineer Platform Subsystems, Fincantieri.


Equipment & technology Vestdavit wins Australian


patrol boat order Vestdavit in Norway has been contracted by shipbuilder Austal to supply PLAR-6500 davits for eight new Cape class patrol boats to be built for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service. Austal will build the 58.1m craſt at its shipyard in


Henderson, Western Australia. Construction of the first vessel is expected to begin soon, with all eight due to be delivered between March 2013 and August 2015. Te patrol boats will play a significant role in protecting Australia’s borders from multiple maritime threats. Tey have been designed to have greater range, endurance and flexibility, as well as enhanced capabil- ity to operate in more severe sea conditions than the current Customs and Border Protection fleet. The 16 PLAR-6500 davits covered by the order


perform an important role in the operational capabil- ity of the vessels. Made of lightweight aluminium and capable of liſting rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) of 6500kg, the SOLAS-compliant, self-tensioned davits are fully equipped with the latest safety accessories, including shock absorbers, guiding rails, wire haulers, hydraulic end stops, and independent HPUs. Teir advanced functionality ensures safe operation in rough weather conditions, and permits the safe deployment and recovery of boats in speed of up to 10knots.


Shipbuilding technology Alcoa to apply advanced


manufacturing techniques Alcoa has been awarded a US Navy US$2.1 million contract to develop advanced welding techniques designed to reduce manufacturing costs on aluminum- intensive ships. Under


the programme, developed through a collaboration by Alcoa’s government affairs team and 12


researchers at the Alcoa Technical Centre, Alcoa will adapt high-deposition gas metal arc welding technol- ogy to marine structures, enabling the US Navy to reduce the cost of shipbuilding programmes. Total projected savings for the US Navy could be as much as US$200 million under current shipbuilding plans. High-deposition gas metal arc welding is a


semi-automated welding process that reduces weld passes, thus reducing labour costs and improving weld quality. Te process will be applied to the US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). It could also be transferred to the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) and other aluminum-intensive ships. In the past 12 months, Alcoa has received US$8


million in new research and development contracts to help US Navy warships become lighter, faster, stronger and more efficient.


Shipbuilding technology SUPSALV working on


underwater welding Te Naval Sea System Command’s Office of the Director of Ocean Engineering Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) recently began developing a prototype hyperbaric aluminum welding capability that will permit underwater welds to aluminum-hulled vessels. Te hyperbaric aluminum welding capability is


being developed to support anticipated repair tasks in the Independence variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and the Joint High Speed Vessel. Both vessels are built with aluminum hulls. “Once this new capability is fully developed and


implemented it will provide Fleet maintenance activities with an in-water repair option to costly dry-docking for repairs,” said SUPSALV’s Deputy Director Michael Dean. “Academic and industrial process research has


confirmed that hyperbaric aluminum welding has never been accomplished, so we’re still working to overcome some hurdles before we can qualify a NAVSEA and ABS hyperbaric welding procedure.” Once the new welding capability is complete and


qualified for use, it will save significant time and money over current dry docking requirements when aluminum hull work is necessary. “Divers can install a dry habitat under the ship and


work pier side while the ship’s crew goes about their normal routine,” Dean explained. “Te dry habitat installation, which is simply a large box structure open on the top and bottom, provides the diver welder with a dry environment to work.” Te prototype underwater aluminum equipment


has been tested in a water tank at depths of at least 14ſt, comparable to the deepest draſts for LCS 2 variant hulls. These test-welds successfully passed initial


Warship Technology May 2012


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