European Project on Course for High Speed Freight Transport
The 30-month project is past its midway point having conducted feasibility studies, market analysis, design and tank tests all of which are showing the vessel as a likely success. With rapid growth in freight logistics markets throughout Europe, and an already congested land-based infrastructure, expansion of waterborne modes is considered essential. It is hoped that PACSCAT vessels will play a major role in achieving this goal. We aim to attract freight from congested roads to major inland waterways, said John Lewthwaite, principle designer of the craft. The high speed, low wash, variable draught vessel is designed for operations on the Rhine and Danube rivers. At a design speed of around 20kt (37km/ hr), the vessel will be capable of making the 2,200km trip from Constanta to Passau in three days as a pose to the current journey time of seven by barge, thus competing directly with road transport. The payload capacity will be in the order of 2000t, which is equivalent to around 80 truckloads. The vessel draught can be optimised from 2.5m to as low as 1.5m in order to cope with shallow conditions on both rivers and air draught can be altered to allow for bridge height limitations. The vessel, when configured for short sea use could prove attractive for military operations, as the variable draft, carrying capacity and high speed make it a contender for the next generation of landing craft as requested by the US NAVSEA programme. The projects Consortium are looking for prospective operators to help in the final specification of the vessel. Interested parties should contact John Lewthwaite at Independent Maritime Assessment Associates (IMAA) Ltd on + 44 (0) 1329 663202 The project is led by the University of Southampton with management assistance from Marinetech South Ltd,Scientific and Technical coordination rests with Independent Maritime Assessment Associates (IMAA) Ltd who developed the PACSCAT concept. Contact: Project Management ,Jonathan Williams, Marinetech South,Tel: + 44 (0) 23 8059 6045 Mob: + 44 (0) 7900 263500,Contact: Science & Technology,John Lewthwaite, Independent Maritime Assessment Associates (IMAA) Ltd ,Tel: + 44 (0) 1329 663202 IMAA has many years experience in the design of fast craft. It has developed the concept known as PACSCAT, which is based on a slender hull Partial Air Cushion Supported Catamaran. The air cushion is contained between the sidehulls and end seals, and is generated by installed lift fans. The vessel will be designed to operate on the Rhine and Danube rivers, utilising existing berthing/ loading facilities. The draught and height can be optimised to cope with shallow conditions on both rivers and the bridge height limitations. At a design speed of around 20kt (37km/ hr), the vessel will be optimised to attract freight from road transport to rivers. The payload capacity will be in the order of 2000t, which is equivalent to around 80 truckloads. The technical and market feasibilities have been confirmed to a preliminary level through testing and analysis under an EU CRAFT Exploratory Project completed in May 2001. The PACSCAT collaborative RTD project (Contract Number: GRD2-2001-50116) was launched on December 2002 with nearly 1M of support under the EU Growth programme. Its goal is to develop and evaluate a novel concept for waterborne freight transportation without the draught restrictions of conventional vessels. The PACSCAT project duration is 30 months. It will perform a detailed design and performance assessment for a vessel suitable for deployment in the Rhine & Danube freight logistics markets.
Paesi
Germany, France, Netherlands, United Kingdom