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14 COMPLETING THE SHIP

14.1 AIMS OF THE LECTURE
a) To outline the remaining tasks following the construction works of the ship
b) To examine various methods of launching ships
c) To explore the procedures of handing over the ship to the owner and yards remaining
responsibilities

14.2 TASKS BEFORE HANDLING OVER THE COMPLETE SHIP
When the construction work has been completed and most of the blocks have been joined the
ship is ready to undergo further completing stages as follows:
a) Launching
Following the joining process on the building berth or building dock, and on-berth outfitting
works the ship is ready to be launched or floated out dependent on the system being
implemented, if the blocks were joined on the building berth more likely the ship will be
launched, and if the block were joined on the building dock the ship definitely will be floated
out, the decision of launching method is usually determined by the availability of the
facilities, and the size of the ship.
b) On-board outfitting
After the ship has been launched or floated out, it is usually dragged to the outfitting quay for
further completion of the remaining tasks. One of these tasks is outfitting, which is known as
on-board outfitting.
c) Trials
When a ship is completed, various trials have to be carried out in order to confirm that the
ship's performance meets the specifications required by the ship owner when the
Memorandum of Agreement was signed. These trials are also known as Acceptance Trials.
d) Ship delivery
Upon the acceptance of ship trials results by every party concerned the shipyard can now
prepare for the delivery of the ship to the owner. The preparation works are mostly in the
form of documents and administration work, such as certificates of compliance from various
parties, certificates of guarantee and operation manuals from engine and equipment
manufacturers, ship calculations and drawings.


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14.3 METHODS OF LAUNCHING
Traditionally ships were built on building berths using sequential method i.e. framing, hull
plating, machinery, and outfitting, but since the introduction of block system and with the
increasing in the size of ships to be built, for safety reason and for practical alignment of the
blocks there are more and more shipyards in favour of having their ships built on the building
docks.
After the block joining has been completed the ship is ready to be launched. There are
various methods of ship launching dependent on the size of the ship, and the availability of
the launching facility. Ship launching can be categorised into two main methods i.e.
launching and floating out, and each of these categories can be divided into more specific
methods as follows:
a) Longitudinal launching
b) Side launching
c) Use of graving dock
d) Use of floating dock
e) Use of ship lifting


14.4 SHIP LAUNCHING
Ship launching is mostly applied for smaller ships due to a number of risks conceive in it.
Slipway is used for launching the ship; the slipway occasionally is partially or wholly below
high water level and is kept dry by doors, which will be opened when the construction is
ready to provide some buoyancy to the ships hull. More often the ship is wholly constructed
above the water and then slid into the water when it is ready. For small ships a cradle is
sometimes used for launching, which will be lowered down on wheels. For larger ships
greased ways under the action of gravity is required for sliding the ships. There are several
ways of launching the ship among other things would include:
a) Longitudinal launching
Longitudinal launching is the most widely and oldest method being used for launching ship,
usually the ship slides stern first due to various reasons such as: ships stern is more buoyant
compared to its bow, there are more delicate parts of the ship at its tern such as: propeller,
rudder, propeller shaft that need precision alignment and might be damaged due to high
reaction force from the slipway when the whole ships hull nearly floats, but there are some
bow first launches can also be found.

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In stern first launch slid ways are prepared around the ships bottom with certain degree of
inclination, and sometime are cambered too, the gaps between them and the fixed ground
ways are filled with grease, so that the weight of the ship can be transferred. When the
triggers are pulled away the ship will slid under its gravity down its inclined ways,
buoyancy will build up upon it enters the water until it reaches sufficient value to pivot the
ship at its fore poppet and continue sliding until floated freely on the water, and then
dragged slowly to stop the ship from launching too far that might hit other objects at the
other end of the water front.
Following are some illustration of ship end launching:











Figure 14.2 Illustration of Longitudinal launching
Figure 14. 1. Longitudinal launching

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Figure 14.3. Floating process illustrasion during end launching
Figure 14.5. Ship dragging
Figure 14.4 Launch trigger

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There are some hazards to be considered during end launching process, which include:
The grease applied might be too much or too little, which will affect the slippery
of the slid ways,
The grease might be squeezed out from the slid ways and gives no effect to the
slid ways,
The ship might slid to the wrong way instead of stern way and plunge due to
uneven sliding velocity, or side wind launching is taking place,
The ship might be unstable upon it floats onto the water and capsize,
The fore structure of the ship might not strong enough and damaged due to
pivoting force from the poppet,
The dragging applied to the ship might not sufficient (too much or too little)
In order to overcome the hazards launching calculation should be carried out to investigate
every possibility that might happen during ship launching, and the safety precautions
could be taken. Based on the launching calculation launching curves can then be drawn to
predict the behaviour of the ship during its launching along the distance of its travel tracks,
these include:
Weight of the ship,
Buoyancy builds up,
Moment of weight about fore poppet,
Moment of buoyancy about fore poppet,
Moment of weight about after end of ground ways,
Moment of buoyancy about after end of ground ways












Figure 14.6. End launching curves

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b) Side launching

There are two main reasons for undertaking side launching i.e. the ship is considerably small
and the water front space is limited. There are three methods of side launching:

The ship slids down on slidways built well down under the water,
The ship slids down the end of the slidways and then tips or drops off into the
water,
The ship is built on piles which are made to collapse by slidways push and make
the ship to fall into the water.













The hazards in side launching are great, because the ship slids into the water with a violent
moves and roll heavily, therefore the ships stability at high degree and water tightness are to
be considered well. To prevent any unexpected things that might ruin the side launching due
to low stability effects and heavy rolling the ships super structure will not be joined on until
the hull is launched. The hazards in conjunction with side launching would include:

The heeling angle of the ship might be to high that could cause the ship capsize
When the ship tips into the water the righting moment might not be able to make
the ship roll back into the right position
The collapsed piles might damage the ships hull when float up from the water









Figure 14. 7. Side launching methods
Figure 14. 8. Side launching


c) Air bag ship launching

Air bag ship launching was introduced by Evergreen China. The innovation has contributed
break through to the traditional slide
small to middle size ships. The basic body of the cylindrical air bag is made
cord- reinforced rubber layers with hemispherical heads at the both ends, air is compressed
into the tube which make it able to roll. The air bags are inserted under the ship bottom,
then the ship is pushed with relatively small force
rubber of the air bags the ship rolls down into the water.
Beside for launching new ship air bag can also be used for rolling up ships intended for
maintenance, and for salvage.




















Figure 14.
Air bag ship launching was introduced by Evergreen China. The innovation has contributed
break through to the traditional slide-board technology which commonly used in launching
small to middle size ships. The basic body of the cylindrical air bag is made
reinforced rubber layers with hemispherical heads at the both ends, air is compressed
into the tube which make it able to roll. The air bags are inserted under the ship bottom,
the ship is pushed with relatively small force, due to its friction with the outer surface
rubber of the air bags the ship rolls down into the water.
Beside for launching new ship air bag can also be used for rolling up ships intended for

Figure 14.9 Air bag ship launching
Figure 14. 10 Air bag
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Air bag ship launching was introduced by Evergreen China. The innovation has contributed
board technology which commonly used in launching
small to middle size ships. The basic body of the cylindrical air bag is made from synthetic
reinforced rubber layers with hemispherical heads at the both ends, air is compressed
into the tube which make it able to roll. The air bags are inserted under the ship bottom, and
, due to its friction with the outer surface
Beside for launching new ship air bag can also be used for rolling up ships intended for

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14.5 FLOATING OUT
Instead of being launched it is much safer and simpler particularly for large ships to be
floated on the graving dock, floating dock or ship lift. Other advantage of these ship floating
facilities is they can also be used for maintenance and repair of ship with regard to the ships
under water structure. The only disadvantage is their investment cost is relatively high
because of the equipment needed to support them. In building a new ship the whole structure
of the ship can be completed prior of its floating out, without being troubled by the high of
center of gravity caused by superstructure, because the ship will not roll when it is floated
out.
a) Graving dock
Graving dock is a box like pool dig on land under the water level equipped with gate, which
can be opened using hydraulic device. When the dock has been filled with water the ship is
then pull out by tug boats. Large pumps are usually utilised to fill in and to empty the dock.
Conventional docks were built followed the shape of ships so that supports could be attached
easily and people who worked on it would have easy access as well, but since shipbuilding
was not considered an art anymore, and the shape of merchant ships are becoming more like
giant box, thus the shape of graving docks are also more like box with rectangular profile.
Since massive weight will be loaded to the dock floor, comprehensive calculation has to be
undertaken in designing the docks structure. The mechanism of the gate has also to be
designed well with consideration on the hydrostatic forces applied on it and the access for its
movement including the hydraulic system that are usually being used for opening and closing
the dock gate.











Figure 14.11 Graving dock

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b) Floating dock
Floating docks are mostly used for maintenance and repair but occasionally they are also used
for constructing new ships, this is mainly due to calmness consideration particularly with
regard to the alignment tasks. Floating dock is actually a pontoon that can be submersed and
floated for floating and lifting ships. Instead of pumping water in to and out from the dock
such as in the case of graving dock, in floating dock the water is pumped into or pumped out
from the ballast tanks, and therefore floating dock does not need any gate to keep the dock
dry, the pump rooms are usually located in the dock walls.












Figure 14.12 Conventional graving dock
Figure 14.13 Floating dock

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c) Shiplift
Shiplift is made up of structural platform that can be lifted up and lowered down vertically by
utilising synchronised hydraulic or mechanical hoists, other name for shiplift is Mechanical
Lift Dock. The main purpose of shiplift is to lift up and lower down ships, and the works
that to be done in relation to the ship are conducted inland, therefore for transferring the ship
to and from the shiplift connecting rails and transfer cradles are provided.
The ship to be floated is transferred from the construction shop/plant inland on cradles to the
platform on the shiplift, then the platform is lowered down until the ship floats and can be
towed out by tug boats. The opposite procedure is carried out to bring a ship to the
maintenance shop.
The advantages of shiplifting compared to ship launching or dry docking are:
- Shiplift can serve theoretically almost unlimited number of ships, while slipway
or dry dock can only serve one ship at the time, because the ships are constructed
not on the shiplift but inland and then transferred to the shiplift.
- The time needed to float or to lower the ship relatively faster compared to
launching as well as dry docking.







Figure 14.14 Shiplift

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14.6 SHIP TRIALS
Trials and inspections are conducted by the Board of Inspection and Survey on all ships prior
to final acceptance for operation, to determine whether or not the contract and
authorized changes there to have been satisfactorily fulfilled. The builders trials and
acceptance trials are usually conducted before a new ship is placed in commission. After
commissioning, a final contract trial is held.
In general ship trials can be categorised into two activities i.e. basin trials and sea trials. Basin
trials are conducted prior to sea trials on the quay as a means for ensuring the shipyard that all
the equipment and machinery performance in accordance to the specifications, and as
preparation before conducting official sea trials. Besides concerning people from the shipyard
Figure 14.15 Shiplifting yard
Figure 14. 16 Transfer cradle

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other patties representatives are also usually invited as witnesses to the basin trials. Items to
be inspected during basin trials among other things are:
Propulsion systems,
Manoeuvring systems,
Static stability,
Electrical and electronic systems,
Auxiliary engines,
Navigation and communication systems,
Safety and fire fighting equipment,
Air conditioning and ventilation systems.

When satisfactory results have been obtained from the basin trials shipyard can proceed for
the sea trials. Sea trials may be carried out several times according to their purposes, and
mostly the same trial items are repeated these include:
Builders trials.
Acceptance trials.
Final contract trials.
Standardization trials.
Tactical trials (for military ships).
Full power trials.
Economy trials.
The main aims of the sea trials are to gather information of the ships performance with
regard to its operation that being the concern of the ships owner. Trial items to be conducted
during sea trials among other things are:
Speed,
Manoeuvrability,
Engine performance,
Fuel consumption,
Ships vibration and noise,
Anchoring system,
Navigation and communication systems,
Safety equipment,
Data obtained from every item of the trials should be recorded and included in the ship trials
report for further follow up by the concerning parties, either the ships performance is
accepted or some changes and adjustments should be undertaken.

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Figure 14. 17 Engine trial
Figure 14. 18 Life saving trial

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Figure 14. 19 Speed trial
Figure 14. 20 Manoeuver trial

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14.7 SHIP DELIVERY
Beside administration works shipyard also has to list and store spare parts that have to be
carried on board the ship, which is usually described in the attachment of the contract.
It is a common practice that during the ship commissioning the owner sends its crews to the
shipyard for familiarisation with the ship and its system; it can take for several days or weeks
dependent on the size and sophistication of the ship.
Sometimes the ship is built not in the same country as the owner or port of register, and even
the distance is relatively far, therefore it should be stated in the contract who is responsible to
deliver the ship to the designated location, because there is cost involved in it.
To deliver the ship it is not unusual that a third party is hired. This third party is usually a
firm that specialised for delivering ship. It provides crew, bunker, and all requirements
demanded for the journey.
There is a warranty period usually given by the shipyard to the ship owner for duration
between three months to one year for the ships construction, machinery, and equipment that
are not functioning well or damage not due to operators fault. For this purpose there is
usually a certain percentage of payment is detained by the ship owner until the warranty
period is due.


Figure 14.21 Navigation and communication system trial

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14.8 CONCLUDING REMARKS
a) Tasks to be completed before handling over the ship include: launching, on-board
outfitting, trials, and ship delivery.
b) There are five methods of ship launching:
Longitudinal launching
Side launching
Use of graving dock
Use of floating dock
Use of ship lifting

c) Ship trials are conducted prior to final acceptance for operation, to determine whether or
not the contract and authorized changes there to have been satisfactorily fulfilled.

d) In general ship trials can be categorised into basin trials and sea trials.

e) When every thing has been completed the ship is then delivered to the owner for
operation.