GRC - Ship Design and Modelling Software

GRC was founded in 1989 to distribute and support naval architectural software for warships and submarines originating from the UK Ministry of Defence and its agencies such as the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (now QinetiQ). With offices in Haslar Marine Technology Park, Gosport, UK, GRC is now a leading software developer in its sector. The company provides software, consultancy and research. The main clients being the UK MoD, UK shipyards and MoD marine contractors. A growing number of overseas government departments and commercial organisations are also using Paramarine.

Paramarine is a proven marine vehicle design and through-life analysis package. Seagoing Paramarine, the naval onboard version, determines intact and damage stability and also provides structural analysis capability. It is now well established onboard Royal Navy warships.

MerIT NAVAL DESIGN, ARCHITECTURE AND ANALYSIS SOFTWARE SUITE

MerIT is the suite of software products offered by GRC. The suite includes:

• Paramarine, the most powerful and versatile Initial Design System on the market for ships, warships and submarines
• Seagoing Paramarine, a powerful on-board system for daily stability check, tank state monitoring, damage scenario response and structural analysis

PARAMARINE DESIGN SYSTEM FOR SHIPS, WARSHIPS AND SUBMARINES

Paramarine is the primary product in the MerIT range. Its large functionality is split into modular components, licensed individually to tailor scope to the needs of the customer.

Paramarine includes is a comprehensive hull and geometry modelling toolset using solid modelling and NURBS surface modelling techniques. Hull generation methods have been expanded recently to complement the established concept design aspects. Advanced naval architecture analysis is possible, for both damaged and intact stability conditions, with assessments to UK Naval and IMO regulations. Also available are modules for advanced performance prediction, including ship and submarine manoeuvring, resistance, propulsion, radar cross section (RCS), vulnerability (blast and fragmentation, system deactivation) and shock analysis.

Paramarine provides rapid but flexible 3D structural definition and computation of longitudinal strength and other structural analyses. Assessment of structure to Lloyds Register of Shipping Naval Ship Rules is provided by a seamless link to the NSR software package. Other links to well established packages such as TRIBON and FORAN provide production and other more detailed design for build functions.

SEAGOING PARAMARINE ONBOARD STABILITY AND STRUCTURAL ASSESSMENT

Seagoing Paramarine meets the needs of the modern warship with respect to day-to-day loading stability optimisation and to damage and grounding response. Seagoing Paramarine utilises validated stability and structural aspects of Paramarine via a user interface tailored to the needs of the crew and through use of a wizard. It is now in use onboard Royal Naval vessels and also ashore in naval training establishments.

DESIGN FOR PRODUCTION

Paramarine users can now buy the DFP modules which allow for construction zoning. This has been implemented by linking the 'functional design' with production processes to generate feasibility and costing data associated with a particular build strategy. The objective is to reduce the risk of an impractical production design feature being discovered late when the design moves to full development.

TRAINING AND CONSULTANCY

Training is provided by GRC for all of its products. GRC will also provide general consultancy and are happy to quote for bespoke software development or porting of NA software to a PC environment. Our Naval Architects also provide a consultancy service, including modelling and analysis.