Students Take Their First Steps Toward Romanian Shipbuilding 4.0

Romanian shipbuilding companies are undergoing continuous transformation as they work to align with European trends in adopting the digital technologies that define Shipbuilding 4.0. This new paradigm adapts core Industry 4.0 tools—such as Big Data, predictive maintenance, advanced supply chain management, and real‑time workflow optimisation—to the specific demands of ship design and construction.

To prepare the next generation of naval engineers for this shift, the Faculty of Naval Architecture (FAN) has introduced the course Hull Building Strategies. The initiative is funded through the European ERASMUS+ programme under the project Learning European Alliance for Digital, Environmental and Resilient Shipbuilding (LeaderSHIP).

The course combines strong theoretical foundations with hands‑on experience. Students learn from Mr. Costel Ungureanu, Dean of FAN, who leads the theoretical component, and from Mr. Radu Bosoancă, who coordinates the practical sessions inside the FAN Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality Laboratory. Key stages of the shipbuilding production flow—material storage, sandblasting, cutting, panel and section assembly, and painting—are brought to life through shipyard visits and video demonstrations from both European partners and the 3DEXPERIENCE DELMIA platform (Dassault Systèmes).

By examining technical documentation related to ship structures and systems, and by working with Microsoft HoloLens 2 devices in remote collaborative mode alongside the CADMATIC eBrowser virtual‑ship platform, students gained a clear understanding of the value of digital technologies. The hands‑on exercises also helped them differentiate effectively between Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality.

Florin, one of the participants, shared his experience:
“I appreciated the interaction between teacher and student—it was much more dynamic than in usual courses. I finally understood the meaning of previously taught subjects and saw how strongly they connect. The most interesting moment was visualising naval objects in augmented reality using the Microsoft HoloLens 2 glasses.”

Another student, Margareta, added:
“The equipment, the laboratory materials, and the visit to the Damen Galați shipyard clearly illustrated the trend toward modernisation and digitalisation in the Romanian maritime industry.”

By combining course participation with a comprehensive overview of shipyard production processes, students developed a deeper understanding of the stages and challenges involved in digitalising shipbuilding workflows.

The first cohort completed the course on 27 March this year and received certificates issued by the “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galați through its Continuing Education Department.