THE MOST IMPORTANT VOICE IS YOURS
The most important voice throughout the design process is yours, the customer. We interact directly with you from the start of a project and as the project progresses around the design spiral. Our interactions with you help shape both the project direction and the details integrated in the final solution. In this manner, we make sure that when the final product is delivered, it meets your expectations.
CLIENT PROFILE
PRIVATE OWNERS
Typically, an owner interested in acquiring a custom-built vessel will need a design package to establish the basic characteristics of the vessel. These characteristics include the overall proportions, expected displacement, power required to achieve the desired speed, major design features, interior and exterior arrangements, and general exterior styling of the vessel.
After the completion of the conceptual design phase, a contract design package is developed. The purpose of this body of work is to supply sufficient information for shipyards so they can provide accurate and competitive quotations for the construction (or refit) of the vessel. A thorough and comprehensive contract design package will ensure that the quotations provided by the competing shipyards will describe a vessel that meets the owner’s requirements.
Sometimes a new design is not in order, and only an addition or modification to an otherwise great vessel is desired. In these instances, we work to understand the underlying desire and help execute the modification in a timely fashion with minimal risk.
CLIENT PROFILE
YACHTING INDUSTRY
We at DLBA are proud to be a part of the international yachting community. Yachts are bespoke items that are created to achieve a vision and executed with passion. We provide support to new yacht builders, refit shipyards, yacht management companies, yacht brokers, and other designers.
These industry partners benefit from the same scope of supply as individual owners, depending on the specific project needs. We are willing to contribute as a team player on a single aspect of the design, or as the leader coordinating the entire project team.
CLIENT PROFILE
RECREATIONAL BOAT BUILDERS
Recreational boats come in many forms, and our client base in this market includes custom cold molded sportfish builders and production fiberglass boat builders. In most cases we provide these clients with functional designs, meaning that we define the bare minimum to meet the top level design requirements. With our engineering expertise, our core deliverable package can provide the right information to minimize hydrodynamic risk at the right price.
Quite often we find our role expanding as our relationship with the customer develops. The capabilities we develop and experience we gain supporting larger, more demanding projects provides great value to boat builders in other ways. Detailed structural design, machinery arrangements, and production engineering quickly become a part of our work scope. Let us sweat the details for YOU!
CLIENT PROFILE
WORKBOAT BUILDERS
The needs of workboat builders are very similar to those at of recreational boat builders – the primary difference being construction material. Most recreational boats are fiberglass whereas workboats are constructed out of aluminum or steel for government or commercial applications.
Our design and engineering support covers the same range of activities and deliverables, except that in the world of workboat design, the number of specific requirements a vessel must possess increases dramatically. Our rigorous engineering and management approach to these projects helps us to be successful in ticking all the boxes in advance to avoid shortcomings later on in the project.
CLIENT PROFILE
COMMERCIAL MARINE OPERATORS
This is a unique client base and we understand their need of practical solutions delivered quickly at an affordable cost. Our broad range of experience with different vessels and different programs enables us to meet the needs of this demanding market.
Most frequently our customers in this market engage us to provide designs for structural modifications, equipment additions, and regulatory body compliance support. We are experienced with providing stability compliance check and documentation, safe working load charts for cranes on barges, and repair specifications to suit Class surveyor needs.
‘I WENT TO DLBA WITH THE CLIENT, AND DONALD TOOK INPUT DIRECTLY FROM THE CUSTOMER. THE FINISHED PRODUCT WAS A BOAT DESIGNED JUST FOR THEM. IT MEETS ALL THEIR FISHING, LIVING AND TRAVELING NEEDS ‘
RANDY DIXON
CUSTOM BUILDER WITH HUNLEY SULIVANS
HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?
FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US
DLBA Naval Architects
860 Greenbrier Circle, Suite 201 Chesapeake, Virginia 23320 USA
Phone: 757-545-3700 | Fax: 757-545-8227 | dlba@gibbscox.com
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