Dutch designer plans workboat revolution
Dutchman Jacco Wakker has developed the Fast-Multicat, a new type of multicat style vessel which he claims will offer operators the choice of up to 90% savings on fuel or the capability to run at up to three times the speed of similar but more conventional vessels.
‘The Fast-Multicat is based on the principle of the catamaran, said Jacco Wakker, founder of Tollebeek based K&W Trans. ‘During sailing, the centre hull will be lifted. Thus the vessel becomes a catamaran with all its typical characteristics. Arriving at the work site, the centre hull will be lowered again resulting in a fully stable deck.’ Wakker plans to start building the first of his catamaran workboats in the near future. He has developed the Fast-Multicat in cooperation with Ad Hoc Marine Designs. The movable centre hull system has been patented worldwide.
‘A multicat is a more or less square vessel with a rather massive construction, explains Wakker. ‘She is a very stable work boat and during sailing, which is necessary to arrive at the work site, she requires an enormous amount of fuel, which is due to the high resistance. At full power, with four 900 KW engines, the top speed is eleven knots and that will take about 730 litres of fuel per hour. Covering large distances is not profitable. It takes too much time and will cost too much money.’
‘With this special vessel the captain has two options, fast or economical sailing. If you maintain a speed of 11 knots you need no more than 70 litres of fuel per hour. That is a reduction of about 90 percent. If you want to save time (instead of fuel) you can go full speed and reach a top of 33 knots.’
The Fast-Multicat consists of a starboard hull, a port side hull and a centre hull. The deck covers the full width of the vessel and thus connects the upper parts of the hulls. The centre hull is filled with four sectional rubber bellows from which the air can be withdrawn creating a vacuum. They slide together, lifting the centre hull and resulting in a vessel with two hulls, a catamaran. The Fast-Multicat has a length of 43 metres and a width of 13 metres. The draught varies between 1.0 and 1.6m, depending on the use of the centre hull and the vessel is powered by four 900 KW engines.
Read the full story in the March issue of Maritime Journal
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