Patent ID: 7818193
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for estimating shipboard stowage requirements, the method comprising: selecting plural stowage aid types, each said stowage aid type being characterized by a stowage aid net volume and a stowage aid footprint area; estimating the total volume of items to be stored in each said stowage aid type; estimating the total stowage aid deck area required for each said stowage aid type, said estimating of the total stowage aid deck area including calculating the estimated said total volume of items to be stored in each said stowage aid type, multiplied by the stowage aid footprint area, and divided by the stowage aid net volume; establishing three longitudinal ship sections, said longitudinal ship sections being the forward ship section, the mid ship section, and the aft ship section; selecting plural rectangular storeroom types, each said rectangular storeroom type being characterized by a storeroom area and lengthwise-widthwise storeroom dimensions, each said rectangular storeroom type differing from every other said rectangular storeroom type in at least one of said storeroom area and said lengthwise-widthwise storeroom dimensions; designating a sectional percentage for each said rectangular storeroom type with respect to each said longitudinal ship section, said sectional percentage being the percentage of total rectangular storerooms of said rectangular storeroom type that are in said longitudinal ship section; estimating a compartment utilization factor for each said rectangular storeroom type with respect to each said stowage aid type, said compartment utilization factor being indicative of the capacity of said rectangular storeroom type to contain at least one said stowage aid type, said estimating of said compartment utilization factor including calculating the net volume of said rectangular storeroom type, divided by the gross volume of said rectangular storeroom type; and estimating, by a computer, the total storeroom deck area required for each said rectangular storeroom type with respect to each said longitudinal ship section, said estimating of the total storeroom deck area including summing calculations of the estimated said total stowage aid deck area required for each said stowage aid type, multiplied by the designated said sectional percentage for each said rectangular storeroom type, and divided by the estimated said compartment utilization factor for each said rectangular storeroom type.