A Deep Dive into modern ship design

Stay the course

Vessels are valuable assets. Investements, which need to pay of and meet the requirements. Since 1994 we design and construct vessels - especially passenger -, cargo-, cruise-, ferry-, and special vessels. We have a full overview and great experience in those vessels from the brigde till the engine room. We use the latest technology to develop the most significant designs, suiting to your demands.

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Design · Detail construction · Simulations · Building supervision · Consulting · Expert evidence ·All on     board

Design Phases

Design

We design and create new ships of all types. From small, robust ferries and passenger ships to large tankers and special solutions such as mobile exercise facilities.

From the general plan sketch to the finished ship design. We always work in close consultation with the customer, taking into account his special wishes and bringing them into line with all the important shipbuilding requirements.

The end result is a design that combines what is technically feasible, what makes economic sense, what is legally permissible and what is aesthetically best.

Concept Design

From idea to visualization

The purpose of the concept design is to develop the first vessel design for the ship owner in order to be able to check the required investment and the feasibility of the intended vessel concept. The starting point for the feasibility project is usually the client's business plan or basic description of the intended vessel and the service.

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Basic Design

From visualization to contract and approval

With a prototype vessel, it is essential that the project is well defined before approaching yards. One purpose of the basic design is the development of the concept and design materials to a level that is suitable for a shipyards tendering purposes. On the other hand the basic design is to develop the project in order to achieve approvals from the classification society, flag state, other related authorities. At the same time, the project will be technically defined in such a manner, that a contractual documentation can be produced.

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Construction

The construction phase is based on a client and authority approval. All details for the building process will be  sorted out adapted for the shipyards building strategy. The systems will be coordinated within the shiphull and optimal positions for them are located. Special equipment for the vessels tasks is being developed. All together the data will be provided  production processes.

Detail Design

From approval to integration

The purpose of the detail design phase is to combine each engineering discipline from the basic design process into an integrated design. All systems, plants, pipes, machinery and outfitting will be integrated into the ship model and its metal structure.

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Manufacturing

From integration to the work shop

All integrated assemblies are aligned to each other. The models of each system and the structure are being prepared for the building process. Workshop drawings, part lists, spools and cuttingfiles are created.

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Services

By this time we became the counterpart in all questions regarding shipbuilding. National, and also international. We offer our services to shipyards, shipowners, contracting authorities and private clients. Over the development from tender packages, to simulation driven desgins, via detailed constructions and the building supervision we can cover the whole ship development process for you.

Simulation

Efficiency is everything

With our highly skilled experts in hydrodynamics and structural analysis we can provide you with the most energy and resource effizient ship designs.

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Building Supervision

Trust, but verify

To ensure you will recieve the vessel that suits your demands in matter of quality and delivery time we will guide you through the buildung period so you can focus on starting your business with the newbuilt vessel.

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Consulting

Ask the experts

You are facing technical challenges in your business environment ? We will provide you with optimized processes in ship operations and ship building.

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Expert Evidence

Maintaining value

Vessels are valuable assets, if those assets need to be verified or something went wrong and a damaged needs to be valuated, ask us.

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References

Over the last decades we were able to built up the skills and tools to serve our clients in almost any challenge in the marine engineering and naval architects sector. Since 1994 we have realized more than 1000 projects, reaching from small concepts, over simulations till complete work shop drawings.

In the following categories we give you an impression of what we are capable of.

Company

Our Drive

Together with our clients we need to be ahead of time, in every meaning.

Our mission is to rapidly change the maritime industries course towards sustainability by dedication and innovative solutions.

We help our clients to build better ships, become sustainable, and run better because of it.

Our portfolio of services and designs, guarantees better opex and capex for new vessels, as well as existing ones.

Our highly skilled and dedicated team of engineers, supervisors, and project managers are passionate about making it happen, a sustainable maritime industry, NOW.

Our guiding principles

Collect

The start of a ship development process is defined by a structurized collection of data, requirements, informations and boundary conditions. We developed a customized process out of this to gather the needed input, from our client and with our own measurements, in a smooth and efficient manner.

Process

To set a efficent framework for a desing task, the collected input needs to be processed. This gives us the oportunity to define sharp borders for the design space in the necessary locations and to give room for creative solutions at the same time.

Design

Our highly educated and skilled experts are equiped with the best design tools which are available in the market. With a strong integration of simulations into the design process we can over the best designs and solutions for your tasks.

Our History

Heiko Buchloh founds the company and starts working in the cellar of his family home
1994
We receive an order from the state of Rhineland-Palatinate for the conversion of a laboratory ship.
1994
We start our first decade with the design, construction and construction supervision of a large number of ferries, beginning with the new construction of the Linz-Remagen ferry in 1995.
1995
New construction of the 36-meter motor yacht "Evanna"
1995
For the Elb-Havel-Land we are rebuilding the Sandau ferry, and for Mühlberg we are building a new yaw rope ferry.
1996
Many new and rebuilt ferries throughout Germany follow in the fourth year of our company's foundation.
1997
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia commissions us with the new construction of the Max Prüss laboratory ship.
1998
At the end of the 90s, we start with the first design for a river cruise ship for the Deilman shipping company. Three more river cruisers follow for the shipping company.
1999
In the new millenium we were consulted to execute all naval architecture and design task to convert and enlarge the excavator vessel "Krabbe".
2000
For the water police of Rhineland-Palatinate, we designed new patrol boats made of aluminum reaching a top speed of over 65 km/h
2001
Construction of the passenger ship "MS Olympic Star" with two open decks and a restaurant.
2002
With a length of 109.4 m and a width of 11.4 m, the 124 guests on board the MS Heidelberg can expect a particularly luxurious cruise ambience, planned and constructed in our office.
2003
The classic, comfortable cabin ship "MS Frederic Chopin", we designed and refined based on her previous sister vessel
2004
We designed the beautiful, elegant Casanova with a total length of 103m.
2005
Increasingly larger river cruise ships like "Scenic Emerald" are being built for Scenic Tours.
2006
We have been working with our client for many years. The planning for two event ships originates from our company.
2006
We build special constructions like sliding roofs on seven cruise ships and floating or semi-submersible fountain systems for India, China, Saudi Arabia.
2006
GREEN SHIP TECHNOLOGY is our top priority. This is how the this vessel was created according to our plans. The world's first zero-emission passenger ship with hydrogen fuel cell propulsion.
2007
The world's first river cruise ship with diesel-electric propulsion. The nonarchitecture and designed packages were supplied by our company
2008
As an exotic project we were trusted with the design of a floating art piece which was installed in the river "Ruhr"
2009
We were trusted with the development of a new class of event ships, four decks high, 85 meters long, with space for up to 1,000 passengers and a large function space with stage.
2010
The river cruises from Century Cruises Chongqing, have been converted according to our consultancy work.
2011
We were commissioned with the design and construction of an electrically operated ferry for the Aasee in Münster (Solaaris).
2011
Construction of the floating fountain system that has already fascinated countless visitors.
2011
We got to know and appreciate a very special client in 2011. Together with Welthungerhilfe we built and put into operation 2 ferries in the D.R. Congo under difficult conditions 6000 km away from Unkel. Together with WHH we managed in only 2 1/2 years to build the ferry connections across the rivers Lubutu and Lowa as part of the road construction project Obokote/Ungandula-Punia. On January 29, 2014, the ferry connections were ceremoniously opened by the German Ambassador Dr. Wolfgang Manig.
2011-2014
Kai Buchloh starts his professional career.
2012
The company was comissioned with the development of four zero-emission, solar-powered electric ferries for Berlin.
2013
A novelty and unique in the world is the Mobile Inland Water
training facility for inland waters, in German "MÜB" for short. A floating training area for fire brigades
fire departments in France, Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate.
The MÜB Regina Rheni is expected to pass Unkel on July 22, 2014 on its way from the shipyard in Maasbracht (Netherlands) to Mannheim, Rhine kilometer 637.
2014
Buchloh developed the first of kind zero emission and energy autonomous laboratory vessel for a drinking water reservoir
2015
The concept and basic designs for 6 Star 135 m river cruise ships were developed in Unkel
2015
Buchloh developed the first of a kind zero emission car ferry for an inland water way ferry concection between Germany and Luxembourg.
2016
Heiko's son, Kai Buchloh, becomes the managing director of Schiffstechnik Buchloh. Heiko Buchloh retires for health reasons.
2017
The full basic and detail design for two battery electric passenger vessels were delivered, each capable of carrying 180 guests.
2018
The company is expanding and raises its flags in Bruchhausen in front of their new office.
2018
On the 24th of January, Heiko Buchloh passes away at the age of 59. He and his son were able to realign the company for the future. Heiko Buchloh leaves a big void in the maritime industry as an expert and as a human.
2019
Schiffstechnik Buchloh did not hesitate to take on another challenge with an exotic client to design and construct a floating surf pool.
2019
Third time lucky. Buchloh was commissioned to design the new luxurious event vessel for KD the concept, basic detail and workshop drawings were produced as the first remarkable project in the new office spaces.
2019
An openable glass roof of 150t for an ocean cruise liner with a length of 42 m and width of 35 m is being engineered and made ready for production
2020
We continue our success story with electric vehicle ferries and deliver the second basic design and tender package for a fully electric car ferry with a capacity of 50t. The project is remarkable because the owner orders his second ferry from Buchloh after a usage of 25 years of the first ferry from 1995
2020
Besides several detail design contracts, Buchloh saves a contract to design a new type-workboat for the Harbors in Hamburg which is fully electric.
2021
Continuing a previous concept design project from 2019, Buchloh is trusted with the basic and detail design for a new class of hydrogen-hybrid container push convoys
2022
1 Employee
At home, in his own family home cellar.

Heiko Buchloh founds the company and starts working in the cellar of his family home

SMM 2022
SMM 2022

6. - 9.09.2022, HAMBURG
Hall B4.EG Stand 301

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Maritime Industry 2023
Maritime Industry 2023

23. - 25.05.2023, GORINCHEM / NETHERLAND

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