New "Air Lifting Systems" to improve safety and performances of catamaran Ro-Ro ferries

Project Information

Grant agreement ID: BRST950141

Project closed

Start date 15 December 1995

End date 29 January 1997

Funded under

• Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998

Total cost No data

EU contribution No data

Coordinated by

Boldrocchi Srl
Italy

Objective

Project development, technical and experimental of a new "Air Lifting System" able to increase safety, efficiency, comfort and speed of large catamaran Ro-Ro ferries, henceforth called "AirCat". Such a system both reduces the vessels water resistance and works as a shock-absorber. It also gives enormous advantages in safety ("AirCat" is practically unsinkable and untiltable), in comfort ("AirCat" sails on an air cushion), in cost saving (reductions in power demand and fuel consumption), in exhaust emissions and trip time (reduced to one fourth of that of conventional ferries). This system represents a significant step forward in short sea shipping for the year 2000, allowing the E.U. to become the world leader in the high speed ferry market with all the consequent economic, industrial and social benefits.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › energy and fuels

Programme(s)

• FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998

Topic(s)

• 030201 - Design of vehicles and systems integration

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

EAW - Exploratory awards

Coordinator

Boldrocchi Srl

• EU contribution: No data
• Address: Viale Trento e Trieste 93 ; 20046 Biassono Milano ; Italy
• Total cost: No data