The Baltec range of catamarans is purpose built for use as workboats within the offshore industries, as pilot, patrol, and survey boats and there is even a full range of fast ferries.

Over the last 20 years Baltec has translated the sandwich technology developed on aircraft structures into the design of sailing catamarans and then into the design of professional workboats, modifying the dimensions and product engineering to the new requirements and developing its own production of sandwich plates in different dimensions to meet the varied requirements. The company now produces large sandwich plates measuring 12m by 2.4m with cores of foam or honeycomb materials and laminates of glass-epoxy Prepreg in a heated vacuum press.

The plates are cut to size by computer aided (CAD) winding off (similar to steel vessel construction) and the build process is carried out from the inside to the outside, starting with the bottom, then web-frames, bulkheads and stringers and all stiffeners glued in with a specially developed epoxy resin, as well as fixtures such as integrated tanks and engine foundations. Finally, the outside panels of the hull and the deck panels complete the construction.

Baltec’s own design and engineering company, Cat-Design, has developed the latest design for fast catamarans, the Ocean Runner. Initially conceived for fast ferries, it has also proven effective for pilot boats and other workboats. The extremely long hulls combine sea going capability with a clear reduction of wave resistance. Due to the long hulls extending forward of the main deck, the risk of ‘deck-diving’ is reduced to zero.

Baltec Werft has just designed a fast ferry for the Archipelago of Gothenburg which will carry 200 passengers at a service speed of 30 knots. Due to its very light weight and long hulls the ferry will be able to sail with no significant wash and relatively low fuel consumption.