KR and HD Hyundai Samho Jointly Develop Program for Rapid Hull-Strength Assessment During Partial Launching

[Financial News] Korean Register and HD Hyundai Samho have jointly developed a program that can rapidly assess a ship’s structural safety during partial launching in the shipbuilding process.
According to KR on the 15th, the two companies carried out a joint development project for an “automated structural-analysis program for partial-launching conditions based on direct strength assessment (DSA)” for about eight months starting in February.
Partial launching involves launching a ship before construction is fully completed and then continuing subsequent work. This method allows shipyards to use docks more efficiently and manage construction schedules more flexibly.
However, partial launching takes place before welding between hull blocks has been completed or some structures have been installed. As a result, the hull’s weight and buoyancy distribution may differ from those of the completed vessel. A thorough structural-safety review is therefore needed to determine whether the hull can safely withstand the loads generated during launching.
Previously, a separate hull-analysis model had to be created based on the ship’s construction status at the time of partial launching, excluding structures that had not yet been installed. The resulting changes in loads and buoyancy also had to be recalculated, making the review time-consuming.

KR explained that the newly developed program uses the analysis model of the completed vessel and automatically reflects structures that have not yet been installed or connected at the time of partial launching, thereby creating an analysis model suited to the vessel’s construction status. It also automatically calculates loads and buoyancy by taking into account changes in the hull’s weight and trim caused by uninstalled structures, enabling rapid structural-safety assessments.
For the project, HD Hyundai Samho provided information needed to develop the program, including partial-launching scenarios and load conditions used at actual shipbuilding sites.
Based on this information, KR developed functions to analyze loads acting on the hull and assess hull strength and structural safety using direct strength assessment techniques. HD Hyundai Samho applied the program to actual vessels to verify its suitability for field use.
KR presented HD Hyundai Samho with a certificate marking the completion of the joint development project on the 14th at Gastech 2026, which is being held in Bangkok, Thailand.
Kim Dae-heon, vice president of KR, said, "Through this joint development, we have secured technologies and standards for efficiently assessing hull strength during partial launching. Based on these achievements, we will strengthen our capabilities in related technical reviews and approvals and actively support shipyards in building vessels safely and efficiently."

[email protected] Kwon Byung-seok Reporter