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PilotNewbuildPCTC
Newbuild PCTC — Detection Designed In, Not Bolted On
By Field Engineering · May 17, 2026 · 6 min read
Working with a yard during build rather than after delivery removes most of the retrofit constraints. The integration looks different end-to-end.
A newbuild PCTC was the first vessel where we worked alongside the yard during construction rather than after delivery. The integration constraints were different in every direction — cabling routes designed in, sensor mounting verified during deck assembly, segment master placement coordinated with the electrical drawings.
What changed versus retrofit
- Cabling routed within structural members during deck plate installation.
- Sensor mounting reviewed by class survey during build, not as a deviation.
- No alongside time consumed for installation — the deck was instrumented before launch.
- Bridge console wiring integrated with the rest of the IBS at commissioning.
What did not change
The product, the calibration approach, and the bridge UX are the same. The deployment plan was different — fundamentally, the build sequence carried the work. The product portability across this difference is what made the engagement feasible.
A newbuild engagement is rare today. By the late 2020s — given the regulatory direction — it will be common. The architecture has to be ready for both modes from the same component set.