An Investigation into the benefits of reconfigurable hull forms

Some vessel types, such as warships and motor yachts, are often required to operate efficiently at two different speed zones: low speed cruise; and high-speed sprint. In the past, a single optimised hull form has been developed, with a balance between the different roles, based on the requirement set and on the operations envisaged. This paper reports on the results from an investigation into the possible advantages of a ship with a reconfigurable hull form, allowing optimisation for each of the two different speeds. This follows on from earlier work (Int. J. Maritime Engg 148) which demonstrated possible improvements in operational efficiency. The two main improvements demonstrated in the earlier work were due to stern shape reconfiguration and change in propulsor type from waterjet propulsion to an azimuthing thruster. The current work focuses on these areas in more detail. Resistance experiments were conducted with and without a stern extension at three displacements to determine the influence of increasing the displacement due to the additional mass required for the reconfiguration. The results were applied to a test case of a Fast Offshore Patrol Vessel, and it was demonstrated that considerable savings in fuel could be possible, depending on the operational profile, and the additional mass required for the reconfiguration. © 2007 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.