The University of South Alabama’s Technology and Research Park welcomes new tenant-partner, ShipConstructor Software USA Inc.

The ship design and construction software technology company was incorporated in November 2005 and launched operations in Mobile in April 2006. The local branch of the international company works with dozens of shipyards across the country.

ShipConstructor software is used for the design, construction, and maintenance of ships for the defense such as the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, as well as commercial ships, leisure yachts, workboats, ferries and offshore ships for production rigs. The company’s product has become the software of choice for the U.S. second-tier shipbuilding industry.

ShipConstructor is also involved with technology development programs through the National Shipbuilding Research Program and several Small Business Innovation Research grants.

As a recent awardee of a major grant from the National Shipbuilding Research Program, ShipConstructor will begin training students in shipbuilding design technology. The NSRP grant includes $185,000 for USA’s Center for Continuing Education and Conference Services to develop and launch the program.

Company President Patrick Cahill says the grant will provide classes for students interested in marine design fundamentals and training in the use of ship design software. The classes will instruct students using ShipConstructor software products in shipbuilding.

“In the shipbuilding industry, there is a shortage of marine designers,” Cahill said. “We would like to offer students classes in that field to help the industry grow with educated students. It will put trained people in the shipyards.”

Students in the program will receive a non-credit certificate. Once development of the curriculum is completed, courses will be held at the USA Brookley campus.

“We are very pleased to have ShipConstructor as our most recent addition to the Technology and Research Park,” said Ker Ferguson, executive director of the USA Technology and Research Park. “We look forward to a long and mutually rewarding relationship with this exciting company.”

Patricia Miles of USA’s Center for Continuing Education and Conference Services said of the project, “It’s a unique opportunity to collaborate with ShipConstructor, Bender Shipbuilding, and others funded under the NSRP grant. This will be the first program of its type in the United States. With eight shipyards located within a 150-mile radius of Mobile, the University is strategically positioned to help retool the region’s labor pool to better serve the shipbuilding industry.”