Design development and model testing of new patented Air Supported Vessel (ASV) designs - leading to the construction of a 24 m ASV full-scale demonstrator

摘要

For more than 6 years SES Europe AS has conducted various R&D on air assisted vessel solutions. Two years ago the Air Supported Vessels (ASV) concepts were patented "world-wide". The partly EU funded innovation process (EU project EFFISES) has demonstrated highly encouraging ASV performance and results, particularly in the high-speed ranges. Several tank-testing models have been developed, instrumented and thoroughly tested in the towing tank of SSPA Sweden AB in Gothenburg. The results from the model tests have been used to optimise and refine the ASV detail solutions. A leading design goal has been to create simple, yet robust solutions offering improved capabilities over current State of the Art conventional fast crafts. The end users requirements have been given high priority. As an example most of the ASV's have been designed for water jet propulsion. In addition the designs have been optimised for improved sea keeping and reduction in onboard motions. (Improved comfort.) The model testing covers fast ASV solutions from smaller fast boats to larger (125 m +) express cargo ship designs. The ASV's may be built in both monohull- and multihull configurations. A scaled manned model — 9 m in length — of a 40 m and 70 knots fast ASV catamaran - is built and tested at the Technical University of Athens. (NTUA). Another similar size model of a 125 x 45 m ASV ROPAX is under construction, and will undergo similar testing. To illustrate the span of applications, a fast Landing Craft (LC) design has also been developed on request from a European navy. Denoted ASV MonoCat, this design is also configured for water jet propulsion, and represents a large step up in performance from the conventional medium lift LC's. Loaded speed is 40 knots, ballast speed almost 50 knots. The ASV landing craft delivers performance comparable with the much more vulnerable hovercraft LC - without the disadvantages of rubber skirts and bags. To demonstrate the ASV concept in full scale, a 24,0 x 7,4 m aluminium catamaran demonstrator is under construction at Swede Ship - Djupviks Varv in Sweden. This vessel will be thoroughly tested. The development- and construction cost are financed by Effect Ships International AS (the patent holding company) with support from the Norwegian Research Council. The boat will be ready for the water early 2005. The demonstrator will be used to exhibit and document the ASV concept advantages and features, and an international market introduction of the technology — including establishment of licensing agreements with leading HSC yards - will then follow.