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High Speed, High Payload Cat Design Contract
Southampton UK based naval architects Nigel Gee and Associates have won a design contract from the US Navy for a 1,000 tonne, 50 knot catamaran capable of carrying its own weight in payload and fuel. Together with the American Titan Corporation, Nigel Gee and Associates will furnish the completed contract design for the X-Craft early next year, when shipbuilding contracts will be awarded. The craft will be delivered in mid-2004.
The X-Craft will be used to evaluate the hydrodynamic performance, structural behaviour and propulsion system efficiency of high speed vessel technology.
Capable of crossing oceans at high speed without refuelling, the X-Craft is required to remain fully operational in sea state 4 at 40 knots. The hull design is the result of two years research into fuel efficient catamaran hulls giving a comfortable ride at high speeds in moderate sea states.
Whereas previous catamarans have normally been designed for high volume, low weight cargoes such as cars and passengers, the X-Craft design philosophy has been geared to high weights of payload and fuel.
The vessel has been designed for simplicity of construction and operation. Access to the main payload deck is via a large lift down from the flight deck or over folding ramps at the stern.
The structure of the vessel is all aluminium with propulsion by waterjets driven by gas turbines for high speed operation and diesel engines for low speeds.
MJ Information No: 17608
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