On July 25, SWS set a new record which realized full hull-connection of the 20,000 TEU Container Vessel H1413 in 39 days. Behind the achievement, there is the aggressive erecting spirit of SWS shipbuilders, also the silent contribution of SWS shipbuilders during plum rain season and orange-coded heat alert days which made sweat drop down like rains.
Comparing with 88-day connection period spent for the prototype vessel H1413, the connection period of H1414 is cut short by 49 days. Such a large periodical contraction is the achievement of all departments by pushing harder, taking initiative and collaboration with full strength. In order to complete rapid erection, the Erection Department actively innovated, dared to attempt, and optimized the process continuously.
First Time of Large Scale Grand Block Shift and Three Island Construction for the 20,000 TEU Container Vessel in China
Early in the construction period, the Erection Department held several discussions over the feasibility of Large Scale Mega Block Shift and Three Island Construction. Through many times of communication with Technology Research Institute and following adjustments, the Erection Department finally confirmed to carry out Large Scale Mega Block Shift in H1414, and adopted Hull Three Island Construction while ensuring safety to break through the lifting bottleneck, roll out the production fully and lay a foundation for quick erection.
At the midnight of July 14, the Erection Department started Large Scale Grand Block Shift when most people fell into a deep and sweet sleep in air conditioning room, a group of colleagues from the Erection Department were debugging 40 adjusting machines which were used to shift the Large Scale Grand Blocks, and then they jacked up the large scale Grand Block weighting 6500 tons at bow side, shifted and adjusted it to the appropriate place.
At 22:38 P.M. of July 19, 11B Grand Block was found overweight during lifting work. Project leader Xu Rentang reached the spot that very night. He organized to clean the equipment and the outfitting, optimized the lifting scheme. Finally, 11B was successfully lifted to the appropriate place which ensured strict implementation of the lifting plan.
“Pushing the Process Forward” Achieved an Important Breakthrough
On the foundation of the first shipbuilding, the Erection Department brainstormed ideas to analyze the structure modality of first grand block at bow side. In order to decrease dock workload and change the form of the general assembly, a variety of circular seam and erection seam with high workload were changed to platform general assembly joint seam and the seam was welded at platform stage which improved the production environment and raised production efficiency.
The assembly of the grand blocks which are at high place of bow side as well as have large sectional line and grave risk in lifting work was changed to fore-and-aft assembly. The high-altitude operation is changed to low-altitude operation and thus the safety risk was largely reduced. Meanwhile, the Erection Department expanded the extent of general assembly, some production processes were shifted forward and meanwhile the block lifting time was shortened too. Total 24 lifting hours were saved for continuous lifting of mega blocks.
Integrate Resources, Promote Quality Improvement and Benefit Increment
At the beginning of H1414 shipbuilding, the Erection Department carefully planned and made full use of department site and human resource. They used the temporary open spaces at No. 3 and No.4 platforms and free labor force to fully carry out the off-site assembly of “Ten Side Plates”. Through comprehensively coordinating with the side plate off-side assembly, they balanced the production load of the supporting platform for No.1 dry dock, improved the integrity of the section assembly, meanwhile the temporary low workload of No.2 platform was complemented which is helpful to keep the labor team stable and make dual effect.
During the general assembly of the cofferdam, in order to ensure the continuous and fast erection of the cofferdams, the 20,000 TEU Container Vessel project team made full use of free space in No.1 dock to assemble the blocks of cofferdams, and kept periodically tight control which ensured the consistency of quick erection.
Facing high temperature and declining production efficiency, the Erection Department took active measures. On the one hand, the department has started implementing the morning shift system since June 26. The working hours started from 7 A.M. and workers got off work at 7 P.M. every day. During the intensive lifting period, working shift ensured the consistency. The department needed 1800 stuffs in first plan, but after active adjustment and tapping potentials, the Erection Department only made full use of 1700 stuffs to satisfy the highest substance requirement. On the other hand, the department supervised and urged the labor service company to borrow labor so as to catch up with production schedule. It was a timely supplement in the period of maximum labor demand.
In addition, facing inadequate equipment situation, the department actively coordinated and borrowed eight Three Dimensional Adjusters from SCH before shifting work of the large scale grand blocks. Through equipment resources sharing, the department met the jack-up technology demand.
The new record can’t make without the management team’s careful planning and the frontline stuffs’ enterprise spirit of daring to be responsible and strict execution. SWS has great capability and confidence to construct high-quality vessels.
