A new marine design and technology company based on the UK South coast has plans to build a fast new vessel called the Atlantic Challenger that will be capable of carrying passengers or cargo at high speed over long distances without re-fuelling.
This vessel’s developers at Christchurch, Dorset-based Maricuda Marine Technology aim to take the Hales Trophy with the new design − a prize awarded to the ship that makes the fastest crossing of the North Atlantic.
The vessel is also being designed to attract commercial interest from international fast-ferry operators, the military and private operators.
The company expects that the 80m twin-gas-turbine driven trimaran would be able to cross the Atlantic without re-fuelling, making the 3,000-mile journey in under two days.
The company currently anticipates that Devonport Yachts would manage the construction and development of the craft through all stages of the build process.
At the present time, Maricuda is seeking support from principal and secondary sponsors, high-technology companies that wish to use the vessel as a test bed for their equipment, potential end-users, investors in future technologies and private investors to fund the creation of the vessel.
World-wide merchandising, international broadcasting and film rights, the licensing rights for three patentable design concepts and the sale of the trophy-winning craft are the commercial returns available to interested parties.
Good luck to Maricuda and Devenport Yachts on this endevour. I hope that this will signal a new era in British shipbuilding.
Surely “…obviates the need TO refuel” or “…obviates the need for REFUELING?” Indeed, good luck to them.
Whatever happened to that low tech idea of powered balloon driven by a pair of Porche engines? Slower, but also much cheaper and I dare say “greener.” There’s a market for each, but I suppose attracting investers is easier with a shiny, high speed pointy thing hurtling through the water at 50-60kn and bags of tv appeal.
I am suprised noone has developed an “Ekranoplan” or ground effect design for this purpose, as delivering soviet tanks to the US at high speed is exactly what the original ekranoplan design was for.
@David Cutter; An passenger airship would have been a good way to capitalise on recent airport closures due to snow/dust…
Who amongst us doesn’t thrill to the thought of a world where elevated monorails, ekranoplans and airships are commonplace? I have always wondered though how an ekranoplan would cope with large waves and swells, such as those experienced in the Atlantic? My understanding was that they were developed for rapid transportation of men and arms across seas internal to the European / Asian landmass.
Reminds me of Concorde. There are still people trying to bring heavy-lift airships to market; we tried to do it in Australia pre-September 11th and nearly succeeded but didn’t due to lack of investment.
Would love to see airships back but a part of me also likes the idea of shiny, go faster trimarans as well!
I believe the term is Hybrid Air Vehicle these days….Airship is soooo nineteen thirties.
But seriously, these chaps http://www.hybridairvehicles.net/ have sold one to a US Defence contractor for spying in the middle east. Its a start.
Seymourpowell also have some fancy drawings, although that’s what they still are.http://www.seymourpowell.com/aircruise/aircruise-press-release.html.
There is definitely a market for airships – my industry for a start.