Shipbuilder Austal is launching a refined version of its past trimaran boat that improves sea-keeping, passenger comfort and fuel efficiency. Austal trimaran next generation: the Auto Express 102 it’s a 102 meter boat which will be launched in October. It will be able to carry 1165 passengers, 245 cars and 190 lane meters for trucks, travel at 39 knots, and has a 630 nautical mile range.
Even Austal delivered the worlds fastest and largest aluminium boat to the Canary Islands in 2005, the work didn’t stop there. Benchijigua (the previous model) operated for over a year with a lot of instrumentation on board, getting-together data and as the same operator runs both catamarans in the same area, Austal could make direct comparisons.
In developing the trimaran, Austal discovered a number of unexpected pluses along the way. It is said to have greater speed for the same cargo weight and the same power compared to a monohull and a catamaran. Of course it also has better passenger comfort (less sea-sickness) and also a better sea-keeping ability.
Austal also found the trimaran could operate at high speed in much higher wave heights. There also proved to be less slamming, water hitting the hull, which causes huge loads on a catamaran’s structure making the whole structure vibrate.
A number of refinements will make the 102 an even better ride. Among these, the radical use of T-foil stabilizers, horizontal wings that help control pitching, on each angle. This T-foil stabilizers will feature sensors on board that sense that one corner’s coming up, so it sends a signal to the wing to provide a force down.
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Filed under: Auto Express 102, Luxury, Luxury Trimaran, The Most
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