Tong Chen, Guo Sizhou

In January 2022, the Innovation Center of the Shanghai Ship Designe and Research Institute (SDARI), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), undertook the development project of the world's first self-propelled intelligent yacht “Smart Boat 1”. This is an innovative system project with tight construction cycle,high technical difficulty, strict quality requirements and extreme challenge.The project team, with its farsightedness and through unremitting efforts, has opened a new era of smart yachts made in China, so that the global industry once again witnessed China's intelligent manufacturing.

Crack hard nuts

The “Smart Boat 1” is a project from scratch. The project team encountered countless difficulties in the process of independent development.It not only had to complete the development and design of the project, but also coordinated with the classification society and the competent authorities, and gradually optimized the broad environment of domestic yacht design.

The “Smart Boat 1” chose a hybrid power system, which is more conducive to carbon emission reduction, but such a system had not been used on domestic yachts, and there was no reference experience,which greatly increased the design difficulty. In addition, the hybrid power device of the conventional ship is installed on the reduction gear box to save space, and there is no similar equipment that can be used on yachts in China, resulting in great difficulty in its design and construction.

Guo Jincheng, the director of marine engine, explored and studied the application of hybrid power system in the yacht field. He consulted a lot of information, communicated and discussed with many manufacturers and other professionals, and constantly tried to apply possible solutions to the design. After countless trials and modifications, he finally came up with an innovative solution to place the hybrid between the main engine and the reduction gearbox, which optimized the space use without affecting the function of the hybrid device. Many technical problems were very difficult, and the relevant resources were very scarce,the project team members groped hard in the darkness. After several months of formidable research and development,the project proposal finally passed the evaluation of experts, which laid a solid foundation for the R＆D of the “Smart Boat 1” project.

Work round-theclock for launching

After the construction contract of the “Smart Boat 1” was signed, it was affected by the pandemic outbreak.The project team adopted the method of home telecommuting, cooperated well and worked overtime to ensure the milestone of detailed design drawings.

Zhang Bo, the out fitting supervisor, was infected with COVID-19 and suffered unbearable back pain, but he still insisted on working, attended meetings and coordination. Even at 11 or 12 pm, he answered relevant technical questions online. After working against the clock, the “Smart Boat 1” laid down on April 28, 2022. However,a new difficult point cropped up --equipment procurement. Due to the serious epidemic in foreign countries,the delivery of imported equipment was delayed, and the country exercised lockdown, it became extremely difficult to purchase equipment. Through intensive discussions, the project team decided to select suppliers with imported equipment inventory, and managed to implement homegrown equipment technical agreement negotiations and equipment ordering, finally completed procurement and acceptance check of the imported main engine, gearbox,silent generator set, hybrid system,CNS, enhanced navigation situation awareness of 13 equipment, and guaranteed the project construction milestone.

The project team held weekly joint production video conference with CSSC Yinghui Southern Shipbuilding,Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Project Management, CSSC Ninth Institute,Guangzhou Yixiang Engineering and CSSC other units to coordinate the target advance. At the same time, the project team organized the expert review meetings on refining the appearance and interior design scheme, mold line design scheme, propeller design scheme,model test speed forecast, construction planning, mooring and navigation test outline; held a large number of technical coordination meetings on increasing the stern thruster, intelligent system scheme, bridge console layout, interiors technology, discussed various problems,solved various technical problems,and promoted the yacht construction efficiently on the premise of ensuring the progress and quality.

Since August 1, 2022, the date of initiating the overall campaign,Project Manager Xu Xumin led discipline directors every week to Yinghui Southern Shipbuilding, where discipline designers on key technical issues conducted in-depth discussion,strengthened the hull building accuracy,cable piping and equipment system installation rationality, interiors high standard construction control and center of gravity control of empty ship weight.

Round-the-clock unremitting efforts finally ushered in the exciting moment. On November 8, 2022, the“Smart Boat 1” was successfully launched in Guangzhou.

Spare no effort, dedicated

After the launch of the “Smart Boat 1”, the work focus of the project team shifted from the design and construction cooperation to the commissioning and testing of each system. The inclining test, empty ship weighing, conventional power system test, hybrid system and independent navigation and independent berthing and other intelligent systems were all tests to the meticulous style and strong will of the project team.

In March 2023, during the intelligent navigation test in Zhuhai,the “Smart Boat 1” docked at the cement terminal of the Maritime Safety Administration. Due to the very poor sea conditions, the tidal range was as high as 2-3 m at night. If the cable was not placed in time, the boat would be seriously collided, resulting in damage to the hull and important internal systems, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

Yang Bo, deputy commander of the project, made a prompt decision and quickly formed all testers into three temporary working groups. They worked on two shifts every day to observe the rising and falling tide of the sea at any time, adjust the cable length, and guard the boat day and night to prevent damage to the stateowned assets.

Xie Guangneng, director of Yinghui Southern Shipbuilding, said,“During the year of cooperation between the two sides, I deeply felt the technical professionalism of the project team, and the sea trial enabled me to see the mutual support of the project team from top to bottom, and every member of the project team actively tried to contribute to the realization of the goal. I deeply admire the cooperation and dedication of the project team.”

On November 27, 2023, the product launch of the “Smart Boat 1” was successfully held in Nansha,Guangzhou. The project team members had all kinds of feelings well up in their hearts, which means that their hard work has paid off. Moreover, it is a milestone step for CSSC to implement the development strategy of emerging marine economy equipment industry,improve the development ability of high-end boats, cultivate the yacht market, and build the brand of “China Shipbuilding Smart Boat”.