Vripack and its virtual reality

Bart Bouwhuis discusses how virtual reality will aid the design and construction process…

How could technology conceived for military training and video games be used to reduce the construction time of a superyacht? In the fourth year of a six-year mission, Dutch design studio Vripack has adopted virtual reality with the intention to reduce the construction time of any superyacht by at least 25 per cent.

“Virtual reality will become a crucial part of superyacht design and construction,” says Bart Bouwhuis, director of Vripack, who explains that being able to immerse yourself in a design prevents any construction-related issues which often arise later on in the process. “It’s everything from being able to visualise the small things, such as the height of switches in the engine room, to the larger things, such as checks for volumes,” explains Bouwhuis.

But further to the initial use of the virtual reality concept, following a period of extensive research and development, the studio is now able to review the various installation sequences in order to eradicate any potential issues which may arise further on in the construction. And it’s these intricate details which result in this 25 per cent minimum reduction in construction time.

But, “The technology doesn’t stop there,” says Bouwhuis. “In four to five years, we plan to have completed a yacht construction-relevant hologram.” By this, Bouwhuis refers to a technology that’s already in development at the Dutch studio, and something Vripack expects to become an essential part of superyacht construction.

Although virtual reality may sound like a novelty, Bouwhuis’s explanation clarifies that immersing one’s self in a design results in a completely new perspective, with a valuable interface which enables the user to constantly make changes before a project enters the construction process – the future ‘must’ for superyacht design and construction.