Post by ferryfast admin on Apr 13, 2005 10:17:52 GMT -5
13 Apr 2005
TRIMARAN TO DOMINATE HIGH SPEED SEA TRANSPORT
(See www.austal.com/ for entire Press Release)
SUMMARY
Part #2
Vessel motions are controlled by the movement of three sets of control surfaces fitted to the centre hull. The system consists of a single T-foil forward, two anti-roll fin stabilisers at about two-thirds of the length aft and finally two interceptors at the transom.
"Benchijigua Express" has a transverse metacentric height similar to a monohull ferry and therefore is fitted with a ballast and heel control system consisting of two ballast tanks and two heel control tanks. Both sets of tanks are designed to be filled as the vessel slows down on entering port. The tanks can be filled in about 5 minutes. The ballast tanks have been designed to cause parallel sinkage to lower the vessel into the water increasing the waterplane area and therefore the transverse stability. Each heel control tank is connected to two transfer pumps that can rapidly pump water from one tank to the other. The pumps are run from a variable speed drive, which in turn receives signals from a PLC based control system.
With the tanks filled upon arrival the control system senses any change in heel angle during loading and unloading and rapidly transfers ballast to maintain a level deck. When the vessel is loaded with vehicles and passengers the ballast and heel control tanks are pumped out.
Close inspection of the eye-catching Fred. Olsen Express livery of "Benchijigua Express" reveals the hull and superstructure are not in fact protected by paint but by a self adhesive film. Orca Marine’s Offshore Film is a pure vinyl product that protects a surface much in the way paint works. Nevertheless, the film is unique in that it has an expected lifespan of 10 to 12 years service depending on conditions. For conventional paint coatings in a marine environment 3 to 5 years is relatively normal under comparable conditions. The use of protective film on areas above the waterline normally covered by paint is expected to deliver substantial economic benefits thanks to a significant reduction in work and time involved in application and a reduction in routine maintenance costs by up to 50%.
As a further item of interest to this already milestone project, Fred. Olsen, S.A. had a requirement that the waterjets could be accessed for inspection and replacement of the thrust bearing given the lack of local shipyard resources suited to a 127 x 30 metre vessel and the potential for this relatively minor servicing problem to interrupt operations.
To this end a transportable cofferdam or caisson matching the unique shape of the centre hull’s transom has been designed, built and tested creating a dry working environment around and under the waterjets. Operated by air supplied by the vessel and with customised mounting points on the ferry it has proven to be a straightforward and successful solution to the original concern and another example of Austal's reputation of working with customers to creatively overcome problems to maximise operability and serviceability.
"While the Auto Express 127 trimaran "Benchijigua Express" set new industry standards for commercial vessel performance, its design and construction are both soundly based and the technology has been identified as having military application", said John Rothwell.
A team led by the US military supply company General Dynamics and including Austal has been selected to provide a trimaran hullform based design for the US Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project. A decision on the option for the construction of an initial two 127 metre vessels is expected in October 2005 with a potential 60 of these combat ships built over a forecast 15 year period for future navy requirements.
Austal has already built two high-speed catamarans of over 100 metres in length. One of these, the 101 metre "WestPac Express", has already proved highly successful in carrying out Theatre Support type duties for the US Marine Corps in the Western Pacific region.
Two further 105 metre catamarans are currently under construction at Austal's Mobile, USA shipbuilding facility.
PRINCIPAL PARTICULARS
Length overall: 126.7 metres
Length waterline: 114.8 metres
Beam moulded: 30.4 metres
Hull depth moulded: 8.2 metres
Hull draft (maximum): 4.0 metres
Deadweight (maximum): 1000 tonnes
Crew: 35
Passengers: 1350
Vehicles: 341 cars or
450 truck lanes metres and 123 cars
Axle loads: 15.0 / 12.0 tonnes (dual / single axles) on central lanes
9.0 / 12.0 tonnes (dual / single axles) outboard
1.0 tonnes on forward ramps
0.8 tonnes on mezzanine decks
Vehicle deck clear height (max): 4.60 metres
Speed: 40.4 knots, 500 dwt, 32.8 MW
Tankage
Fuel: 145,000 litres
Fresh water: 7000 litres
Black & grey water: 7000 litres
Lube Oil: 2 x 600 litres
Hydraulic Oil: 2 x 600 litres
Sludge: 1000 litres
Propulsion
Main engines: 4 x MTU 20V 8000; 8,200kW at 1150rpm each
Gearboxes: 2 x Renk ASL65; 1 x Renk ASL 2X80
Waterjets: 2 x Kamewa 125 SII; 1 Kamewa 180 BII
Azimuthing bow thrusters: 2 x Ulstein Aquamaster UL601
Generator sets: 4 x MTU 12V 2000 M40 540 kW each.
Survey Classification Germanischer Lloyd 100A5, HSC-B OC3 High Speed Passenger/Ro-Ro Type MC, AUT.
Ends.
For further information contact:
Austal
Public Relations
Tel: +61 8 9410 1111, Fax: +61 8 9410 2564
Email: pubrel@austal.com
Web: www.austal.com
Fred. Olsen S.A.
Tel: +34 922 628 221, Fax: +34 922 628 231
Email: lineas@fredolsen.es
Web: www.fredolsen.es
TRIMARAN TO DOMINATE HIGH SPEED SEA TRANSPORT
(See www.austal.com/ for entire Press Release)
SUMMARY
Part #2
Vessel motions are controlled by the movement of three sets of control surfaces fitted to the centre hull. The system consists of a single T-foil forward, two anti-roll fin stabilisers at about two-thirds of the length aft and finally two interceptors at the transom.
"Benchijigua Express" has a transverse metacentric height similar to a monohull ferry and therefore is fitted with a ballast and heel control system consisting of two ballast tanks and two heel control tanks. Both sets of tanks are designed to be filled as the vessel slows down on entering port. The tanks can be filled in about 5 minutes. The ballast tanks have been designed to cause parallel sinkage to lower the vessel into the water increasing the waterplane area and therefore the transverse stability. Each heel control tank is connected to two transfer pumps that can rapidly pump water from one tank to the other. The pumps are run from a variable speed drive, which in turn receives signals from a PLC based control system.
With the tanks filled upon arrival the control system senses any change in heel angle during loading and unloading and rapidly transfers ballast to maintain a level deck. When the vessel is loaded with vehicles and passengers the ballast and heel control tanks are pumped out.
Close inspection of the eye-catching Fred. Olsen Express livery of "Benchijigua Express" reveals the hull and superstructure are not in fact protected by paint but by a self adhesive film. Orca Marine’s Offshore Film is a pure vinyl product that protects a surface much in the way paint works. Nevertheless, the film is unique in that it has an expected lifespan of 10 to 12 years service depending on conditions. For conventional paint coatings in a marine environment 3 to 5 years is relatively normal under comparable conditions. The use of protective film on areas above the waterline normally covered by paint is expected to deliver substantial economic benefits thanks to a significant reduction in work and time involved in application and a reduction in routine maintenance costs by up to 50%.
As a further item of interest to this already milestone project, Fred. Olsen, S.A. had a requirement that the waterjets could be accessed for inspection and replacement of the thrust bearing given the lack of local shipyard resources suited to a 127 x 30 metre vessel and the potential for this relatively minor servicing problem to interrupt operations.
To this end a transportable cofferdam or caisson matching the unique shape of the centre hull’s transom has been designed, built and tested creating a dry working environment around and under the waterjets. Operated by air supplied by the vessel and with customised mounting points on the ferry it has proven to be a straightforward and successful solution to the original concern and another example of Austal's reputation of working with customers to creatively overcome problems to maximise operability and serviceability.
"While the Auto Express 127 trimaran "Benchijigua Express" set new industry standards for commercial vessel performance, its design and construction are both soundly based and the technology has been identified as having military application", said John Rothwell.
A team led by the US military supply company General Dynamics and including Austal has been selected to provide a trimaran hullform based design for the US Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project. A decision on the option for the construction of an initial two 127 metre vessels is expected in October 2005 with a potential 60 of these combat ships built over a forecast 15 year period for future navy requirements.
Austal has already built two high-speed catamarans of over 100 metres in length. One of these, the 101 metre "WestPac Express", has already proved highly successful in carrying out Theatre Support type duties for the US Marine Corps in the Western Pacific region.
Two further 105 metre catamarans are currently under construction at Austal's Mobile, USA shipbuilding facility.
PRINCIPAL PARTICULARS
Length overall: 126.7 metres
Length waterline: 114.8 metres
Beam moulded: 30.4 metres
Hull depth moulded: 8.2 metres
Hull draft (maximum): 4.0 metres
Deadweight (maximum): 1000 tonnes
Crew: 35
Passengers: 1350
Vehicles: 341 cars or
450 truck lanes metres and 123 cars
Axle loads: 15.0 / 12.0 tonnes (dual / single axles) on central lanes
9.0 / 12.0 tonnes (dual / single axles) outboard
1.0 tonnes on forward ramps
0.8 tonnes on mezzanine decks
Vehicle deck clear height (max): 4.60 metres
Speed: 40.4 knots, 500 dwt, 32.8 MW
Tankage
Fuel: 145,000 litres
Fresh water: 7000 litres
Black & grey water: 7000 litres
Lube Oil: 2 x 600 litres
Hydraulic Oil: 2 x 600 litres
Sludge: 1000 litres
Propulsion
Main engines: 4 x MTU 20V 8000; 8,200kW at 1150rpm each
Gearboxes: 2 x Renk ASL65; 1 x Renk ASL 2X80
Waterjets: 2 x Kamewa 125 SII; 1 Kamewa 180 BII
Azimuthing bow thrusters: 2 x Ulstein Aquamaster UL601
Generator sets: 4 x MTU 12V 2000 M40 540 kW each.
Survey Classification Germanischer Lloyd 100A5, HSC-B OC3 High Speed Passenger/Ro-Ro Type MC, AUT.
Ends.
For further information contact:
Austal
Public Relations
Tel: +61 8 9410 1111, Fax: +61 8 9410 2564
Email: pubrel@austal.com
Web: www.austal.com
Fred. Olsen S.A.
Tel: +34 922 628 221, Fax: +34 922 628 231
Email: lineas@fredolsen.es
Web: www.fredolsen.es