Bateaux a grande vitesse

[VicS]

It is going to be interesting for small craft sailing the Thames estuary and the north Kent coast with a fleet of these, nearly as big as aircraft carriers, operating at 60mph out of Sheerness, coupled with the proposed wind farms.

 

[Woodlouse]

Erm... What is it and what does it do?

 

[Searush]

It's a yacht crusher.

 

[Woodlouse]

Well obviously. The position of the bridge alone means that unless you're on the horizon you're not going to be seen. And even then you'll be too far away.

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
What is it and what does it do?

[/ QUOTE ] News story here

 

[Searush]

That'll be fun zipping acros the busiest traffic separation lanes in the world. It's a bit like crossing the M6 (busiest M'way in Europe) on a motorbike, or playing Russian Roulette. Most of the time you will be OK, but on the odd bad day it will take a bit of work to tidy up the mess.

I suppose they are relying on the tides to carry all the floating debris out past the Channel Islands where few will see it.

 

[Heigaro]

That's a good idea - it's got its own lighthouse on the back!!
I'm straight off to the chandlers for one of those. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
It would add a new dimension to the old joke about the US aircraft carrier and the lighthouse, methinks /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Parsonsheath]

I wonder what wash that one sets up? Am certainly glad it is not further up on the east coast!

 

[DeeGee]

We now need a thread on the best grapnel design for hooking on and hitching a lift /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[sarabande]

Looks like a grownup version of that Dolphin gadget which appeared here a few days ago.

Does it do the underwater bit as well ?

 

[sailorman]

yes whet it hits a VLCC /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Bajansailor]

I really dont know where these journalists get their 'facts' from for writing a story like this.
There is so much artistic license employed in that sketch of the BGV it is laughable. It will be the size of an aircraft carrier? And do 50+ knots? Have they invented the propulsion units yet for this beast?
And there is an apology saying that they wont be operating until summer 2008...... they havent even started to design this ship properly (if they had, they would have a more realistic drawing available), and yet there are confident assertions that they will be up and running in just over a year.....

The concept of large stabilised slender monohull ferries has been around for a while, with various proposals put forward by designers who are obviously far more qualified / experienced than whoever came up with this beast.

Have a look at this 'trimaran' (although I think the preferred term is stabilised monohull) designed by Nigel Irens - info at http://www.nigelirens.demon.co.uk/FRAMEpower.htm

Note the power requirements for the comparatively modest speed (very efficient really), and then try scaling this up to aircraft carrier size.....

Have a look also at the pentamarans designed by Nigel Gee at http://www.ngal.co.uk/designs/commercial/pent/pentamarans.html

They are in the forefront of stabilised slender monohull design and development, yet even with their credentials, nobody (as far as I am aware) has actually placed an order yet for a beast like this. Simply because it is just not economically feasible yet.

The chappie behind this BGV project appears to be registered in Belize (a country not exactly renowned for its transparency, or integrity re registering ships), and he refuses to comment as to who his backers are..... this BGV appears to be as plausible as the Freedom Ship that was mooted a few years ago - a vessel three times longer than the longest vessel currently afloat (how do they get enough longitudinal strength into it without compromising stability with depth unless it is articulated?), with an aeroplane runway on the top deck. They did have a website called www.freedomship.com, but it is not co-operating when I try to bring it up.... I wonder why?

 

[LostinFrance]

Lets hope it doesn't get too close to the Richard Montgomery....

 

[Jezlyn]

I wouldn't worry. Stena Sealink are going to withdraw their fast HSS ferries between Harwich and Hook of Holland as they have proved too expensive to run. Obviously there isn't a successful business plan for a super fast ferry service. With luck the company will go into liquidation before the service starts.

 

[Bajansailor]

Re: The \'Freedom Ship\' - Un grande Bateaux?

The website www.freedomship.com seems to be up and running again now - wasn't last night - and I see that they are looking for investors now.... Oh dear!
Remember the Walker Wingsail Saga? Anyone on here had shares in this Company? Did you ever get anything back from the receivers when they went bust?
Walker Wingsails are IMHO a thousand times more believeable than this Freedom Ship!