303
May 2005
Philippines Building SWATH Slice Technology for Gulf of Mexico
Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull (SWATH) designs have been around for some time and have met with acceptance in applications that require a stable high speed platform capable of operating in rugged sea conditions. More recently the American design firm, Lockheed Martin has developed an advanced form. Company documentation explains, “Patented by Lockheed, the fast variant was dubbed Slice, because it slices through the water without making waves. The innovation lies in the arrangement of the Slice’s buoyancy -- while a standard SWATH has two Coke-bottle-shaped hulls running the full length of the ship, Slice has four shorter, teardrop-shaped pods, which produce less drag. This structure allows the Slice hull to reduce wave-making resistance at high speeds by up to 35% compared to a SWATH of the same displacement. Slice’s short hulls are able to push through the wave "hump" much more quickly. Slice has the same stable ride as a SWATH, but can go faster with the same horsepower.”
FBMA Marine Inc (www.fbma.com.ph), the ISO 9001:2000 classed Aboitiz Corporation-owned shipyard, based in Cebu Philippines has recently signed a contract to complete the detailed design, construct and supply of two of the Slice technology crew vessels for Mexico’s Hoteleria y Servicios Petroleros in the Gulf of Mexico. The 28 by 16-meter vessels will utilize the Sea Slice hull form to operate at 20 knots in Sea state 3. This highly complex vessel required a flexible approach from FBMA Marine Inc and draws upon their experience building high speed aluminum ferries.. Delivery schedule for the two vessels is mid 2006.
Power for the vessels will be provided by a pair of Cummins KTA50-M2 engines. Each engine will generate 1800 HP (1343 kW) at 1900 RPM. The engines will turn controllable pitch propellers through reduction gears. The vessels will have tankage for 21.8 tonnes of fuel and 1500 liters of potable water. With a crew of six the boat will accommodate 150 passengers and will be contracted to Pemex for duty in the Gulf of Mexico.
For further information:
Craig Patrick
Sales & Marketing Manager
FBMA Marine Inc.
12 Kineton Road
Southampton, UK
S015 7PQ
Phone: +44 23 80 510105
Mobile: +44 7921 068302
E-mail: craigp@fbma.com.ph
Jeziel Bacus
Executive Assistant
FBMA Marine Inc.
West Cebu Industrial Park
Arpili, Batamban
Cebu Philippines
Phone: +63 32 465 0001-7
Fax: +63 32 465 0008-10
E-mail: fbma@fbma.com.ph
Website: www.fbma.com.ph
Daniel Vanniasingham
Marine Manager
Cummins Diesel Sales Corporation
8 Tanjong Penjuru
609019.
Singapore
Work: 65 (6) 265-0155
Fax: 65 6 264-0664
Mobile: 65 6 963 73549
E-Mail: Daniel.Vanniasingham@Cummins
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