What is Ship Design Spiral?

The ship design spiral, also known as the design spiral model, is a systematic approach used in naval architecture and marine engineering to develop and refine ship designs. It involves a continuous process of iteration and refinement, where the design gradually evolves through multiple stages.

Ship Design Spiral

The ship design spiral, as depicted in Figure 1-2, represents the iterative process of designing a ship in Naval Architecture. It consists of four distinct phases: concept design, preliminary design, contract design, and detailed design. Each stage is characterized by specific activities and objectives, as outlined below:

1. Concept Design Stage: This stage involves translating the mission requirements into a preliminary ship design. It focuses on creating a basic outline of the ship, considering various aspects of the design process.
2. Preliminary Design Stage: During this phase, the concept design is refined through iterative processes. Some properties defined in the concept design, such as ship dimensions, weight, and power, remain unchanged while other details are further developed and optimized.
3. Contract Design Stage: In this stage, one or two iterations occur where the major characteristics of the ship remain unchanged. Detailed plans and specifications are prepared, which become part of the contract between the shipowner and relevant stakeholders.
4. Detailed Design Stage: The most time-consuming phase, detailed design involves creating production plans based on the finalized specifications. This phase encompasses the development of comprehensive and precise designs for all components and systems of the ship.

Overall, the ship design spiral facilitates a systematic and iterative approach to ship design, allowing for continuous refinement and optimization of the design throughout the various stages.