Chinese shipbuilder New Times Shipbuilding Co., Ltd (NTS) introduces simulation-driven design to its product development. NTS has signed a contractual agreement with GL's maritime software developer Friendship Systems. The contract includes the licensing of engineering software and design support for the development of a large crude oil tanker. By introducing the simulation-driven design software the shipyard aims to improve the efficiency of its products, streamlining its design work and increasing its competitiveness.
Friendship-Framework is a CAE software system for the simulation-driven design of optimal functional surfaces like ship hulls, rudders, propellers and other maritime systems exposed to a flow regime. The development of optimally task-suitable, energy efficient, high performing designs is achieved in a streamlined design process which is built around integrated simulation. Parametric modelling, variant generation and assessment, as well as hydrodynamic optimization are key design steps which are fed by the simulation results and lead to an optimal design. Friendship Systems has released the latest upgrade of the simulation-driven design software Friendship-Framework, version 2.1, in late 2009. A new release with further enhanced functionality and user-friendliness is planned for autumn 2010.