NEW PRODUCTS
Sea Bubble hydrofoil prototype under test
Now being tested in the River Seine in Paris is the all-electric Sea Bubble, a 5 metre hydrofoil craft designed as the water taxi of the future. The designers claim that the craft can operate with zero waves, zero noise and zero emissions.
Designed by Alain Thébault, the Sea Bubble is powered by two electrically driven propellers. Power comes from two 10kW electric motors that are attached to the foil system and with two 10kWh batteries it is claimed that the craft can run for about three hours at moderate speeds and then it takes two hours to recharge. It is planned that when the water taxi is in operation the Sea Bubbles will be based at purpose built docks fitted with charging stations.
To add to the green credentials, these staging areas will have a mix of solar panels and wind turbines to charge the batteries. Another possibility for the electrical supply is to have water turbines powered by the river current. The Sea Bubble weighs about 1000kg and can carry five passengers. Up to about 7 knots the craft runs in displacement mode and then it rises out of the water onto the foils to give a hull clearance of about 40cms, allowing the Sea Bubble to fly over small waves. The craft has a cruising speed of 12 knots when in the foil borne state and the top speed is 15 knots.
Dry dock innovation uses inflatable buoyancy
Unique Group’s Buoyancy & Ballast division has recently facilitated a high-profile dry dock project in Romania, involving the supply and operation of 840t of Seaflex inflatable buoyancy.
The hull and lower decks of the Australian Antarctic Division’s (AAD) new icebreaker Nuyina were constructed in the dry dock at Damen’s Galati Shipyard.
“Our Buoyancy & Ballast division is truly unique within the market and we consistently bring added value to our clients, working in partnership,” said Chris Sparrow, global sales manager, Buoyancy & Ballast at Unique Group.
“We get right up to speed early on in a project during the initial engineering phase and give technical assistance to clients without cost or commitment at that point. We are then able to offer clients the option of renting or purchasing equipment, according to their preference and business needs.”
Next steps Detailed engineering discussions took place over 18 months ahead of the work to determine the sizing, positioning and securing of the buoyancy units to the hull, so as to ensure sufficient clearance between the sill of the dry dock and the keel of the vessel when the dry dock was flooded.
42 x 20t Seaflex Inflatable Buoyancy Units and a system of hoses and manifolds were supplied to Damen on a rental basis, and two Seaflex technicians were deployed to offer on- site support throughout the two-week operation which took place during the early autumn of 2018.
82 | The Report • December 2018 • Issue 86
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92
