What are Ship Plates and Steel Plates: All You Need to Know

Do you want to work on a cruise ship? Are you planning to become a seafarer? If your choice of career is related to shipping, then it helps to know a little about the basic structure of a ship.

Ship construction is an exact process. Everything has to be designed and planned carefully to ensure that the ship operates properly. The safety of its passengers and the purpose it is built for is also a major consideration. 

So, what are ship plates and steel plates and why are they important?

Steel Ship Plates for Shipbuilding Purposes

Ship plates are used to construct ships. They are thin and wide, which is ideal for shipbuilding. Most parts of a ship are built using steel. Steel ship plates are known for their strength and high weldability. The plates often have to undergo welding to fit into their application. 

Steel plates can be fabricated in various thicknesses and sizes to meet the client’s requirements. If the client is looking to build a smaller ship or reduce life cycle costs, the fabrication company can also develop specific types of steel plate products. 

If the product, on the other hand, is a huge container ship, then the client will require extra-thick steel plates. This material will be a lot difficult to work with, but today’s steel fabricators now offer products that are able to withstand high-heat input welding. These steel plates are tailored to meet the safety requirements of super-sized ships.

Steel plate products can also be resistant to corrosion, which is extremely helpful for oil tankers or coal cargos. You may even coordinate with your supplier for a plate that can be used for chemical tankers.

Securing Certifications and Finding Shipbuilding Material Suppliers

If you’re building a ship, your goal is to see returns on your investment and get back operating costs, as soon as possible. The design of your ship can vary depending on various factors. For example, you need to consider how the economy is performing and also take into account any events that may occur while the ship is being built. 

Of course, you can’t set aside the safety of your people and the type of vessel that you have in mind. You probably already have plans on the logistics of the ship, that which you also have to take note of. Whether your ship is likely to endure unforgiving heat or cold, long voyages, or heavy cargos, at the end of the day, it should be able to hold up. 

As with any transportation vehicle, a ship also undergoes continuous inspections conducted by respected organisations in the maritime industry. They assess the quality of your ship and classify it. 

The rules and regulations can vary per certificate issuing party. But, in general, they’re similar in that they look into the availability of all necessary equipment in the ship, the quality of the machinery used for it, and its overall strength.

The majority of merchant ships are built in Japan and South Korea but you are free to build your ship in any country. In this regard, you also need to look into potential suppliers in your area. If you’re in Singapore, it helps to find a one-stop supplier that is fully experienced in working with shipbuilders.

Learn More About Shipbuilding Today

Now that you have a little background on the materials that are used to build a ship, you can take comfort in knowing that a ship won’t succumb that easy. Keep learning more about the structure of a ship so when a colleague comes up to you to talk about it, you won’t be clueless.