The Afterguard

Whenever I projected a certain picture of a passage in a U.S. Navy ship, I told the audience, “If I were an archeologist who discovered this ship a thousand years from now, I could say for sure that the designers and pipe fitters were organized system-by-system, I could accurately deduct the sequence for installation of the separate systems, and I could say, with certainty, that the pipe fitters were relatively ineffective due to no fault of their own.”


I shot the photo two-decades ago during the outfitting phase of a frigate. The president of the responsible design firm was present, so I asked, “Why are there separate pipe supports for these five systems?"


He attempted to turn my question aside by saying, “We have to make them shock proof!”


Having once been assigned to a research section in the U.S. Navy’s Bureau of Ships (now the Naval Sea Systems Command) where I was indoctrinated in techniques for the prevention of high-impact shock damage, I replied with confidence, “So what! Common supports can be designed for shock protection.”


He then answered honestly, but as an unreconstructed traditionalist, “You’re right, but there is no way that we are going to have a conference of five pipe-system designers each time we have to design a common support!”


The idea of having one detail designer responsible for all pipe systems and their supports in that particular zone, was, at that moment, beyond his traditional thinking. He would also have had difficulty in accepting changes in the detail-design sequence that would enable workers to manufacture the required components and to assemble them as an outfit unit, in time for the unit to be fitted when the block containing the deckhead (ceiling) was upside down.

Douglas Cratch wrote:

Gentlemen:
How small this world truely is. I am the 49 year old son of Chris Cratch, Welding Shipyard Div. of NBC, Norfolk, Va. I am a design engineer and project manager for a semi-custom yacht manufacturer.
I have just visited this site for the first time. While now having read everything offered...yet, I can almost not believe my eyes. The stories and thoughts shared here are as important today as they were then. My father taught me so much, now as I search the alumni of Welding Shipyard and National Bulk Carrier, I find that his lessons live on through your thoughtful contributions.
I will visit often and promise to pay close attention to the answers that ly within.
Doug

Louis D. Chirillo wrote:

Doug,

Your sincere compliment suggests that you would be interested in a related site, i.e., the Shipbuilding Pictures Database at http://nsnet.com/shippicsP/...

Many thanks,

Lou

Chuck Jonson wrote:

Whenever I see or hear about someone like Douglas, I begin to think there is hope. Then I see the traditionalists refusing to change and winning over time. We should certainly encourage people like Douglas to continue to study, learn, and apply the relatively simple techniques taught to us by IHI.

Douglas Cratch wrote:

Thank You Gentlemen:
Lou, many thanks for the link.
I have been somewhat slow in returning to check this forum. My work is sometimes all consuming. I have recently return from Marseille, France where I was aboard a 214ft Feedship. I am working on a custom tender for this vessel.

I promise to return here often and again
Lou and Chuck; thank you.

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