ABSTRACT

Shipbuilding has a quite complex product value chain with design, procurement, construction, outfitting, painting, assembly, assessment and trials. These processes and related activities are executed in general within restricted periods adhering to specific milestones. Each year many occupational accidents and diseases are encountered at this dangerous branch of industry resulting in not only dramatic non-fatal injuries and deaths but also financial losses.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution comprises autonomous production robots also called “cyber physical systems” that are capable of making decisions utilizing Internet of Things (IoT) and big data analysis, incorporation of wide spread, fully integrated, automatic and optimized production management philosophy and realization of the Idea “Smart Factory”. This new paradigm has the potential to change the nature of shipbuildingjust like any other industrial branches and is expected to be a nexus to new solutions for neutralizing occupational risks faced during shipbuilding processes.