A LOW-RESISTANCE, LOW-EMISSION SOLUTION FOR PATROL AND PILOTAGE OPERATIONS

The first of a class of 13.5m catamaran patrol launches that will solve many of the current patrol and pilotage challenges, is under construction, ready for trials and introduction into service in Spring 2009 and will be the focus of attention at the September Institute of Marine Engineers, Science and Technology (IMarEST) Supper Meeting.

Traditional and contemporary designs of small commercial and paramilitary vessels for harbour, river and security patrolling, emergency response and pilotage duties rely, in the main, on heavy monohull forms with high levels of vessel wake wash and unnecessarily high fuel consumption. This is set to change, thanks to the new design.

At the Supper Meeting on 11 September 2008, Alan Cartwright, PLA Marine Engineer, Port of London Authority, will look back over a four-year award winning R&D programme, conducted in association with specialist academic institutions and boat builders, that has led to the development by the PLA of a successful concept and design for the new specialist catamaran patrol launch.

“I know this is going to be a fantastic evening,” says Keith Read CBE, Chief Executive of IMarEST. “A solution that addresses such issues as high levels of vessel wake wash and unnecessarily high fuel consumption is bound to attract the interest of members and non-members alike with interests in security patrolling, emergency response or pilotage; in environmental vessel management; and in vessel design. We are delighted that Alan Cartwright will be sharing information on the hard work that has gone into this new design.”

The Supper Meeting will be held at IMarEST HQ, 80 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5BJ. The evening begins at 17.00 when the bar opens; the lecture starts at 18.00 and supper will follow at 1900 hours.

Background to the lecture
The traditional and contemporary designs of vessels used for harbour, river and security patrolling, emergency response and pilotage duties require high-capacity engines to power them to service speeds.  These designs of craft result in very high levels of vessel wake wash and unnecessarily high fuel consumption, with consequentially high exhaust emissions and the potential for damage to the river or coastal environment.  The danger to rowers and persons in small craft, in the vicinity of such vessels is very evident, when up to 1.5m high waves are created aft of the patrol launch, at speed. 

Through a four-year research and development programme, in association with specialist academic institutions and boatbuilders, the Port of London Authority developed a successful concept and design of catamaran patrol launch able to patrol at the required service speed but with substantially reduced hull resistance, when compared with the traditional monohull or commercially-available catamaran vessels of equivalent dimensions. 

Because of the substantially reduced resistance and finer hull lines, wake wash wave heights and energies are reduced by approximately 60%, when compared with the patrol launches formerly used.  This allows patrolling and emergency response to be achieved, at high speed, without endangering other craft operators and has cut fuel consumption and emissions by approximately 70%.  The potential for damage to river banks or coastal environment is substantially reduced. The design team's contribution to protection of the environment and enhancement of safety was recognised by Lloyd's Register and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, by award of their 2006 Ship Safety award to the Port of London Authority, Ecocats Limited and Southampton University. 

Having proven the concept in the PLA's Upper District (Teddington to Putney), the overall design has been developed for construction of a new class of 13.5m finely-lined catamaran launches, for patrol and pilotage operations downstream and up to 20 miles to sea.  Following a comprehensive design review, including structural and hull lines optimisation, the first of class is under construction, ready for trials and introduction into service in Spring 2009.  This new approach to vessel design offers better protection to the environment and substantial through-life savings, to operators requiring robust vessels for harbour and security patrol duties, emergency response and pilotage operations.

Booking information
Tickets for the Supper Meeting cost £20 for IMarEST members, £30 for non-members, and £10 for IMarEST retired/student members. Non-members completing the Elective Member application attached to the leaflet promoting the Supper Meeting are able to attend the meeting free of charge.  Online registration is at www.imarest.org/events or registrations can be made via the IMarEST Events team, Tel: +44 (0)20 7382 2636 and events@imarest.org