Rodriquez develops green Ropax prototype

Italian shipyard group Rodriquez Cantieri Navali and Genoa-based classification society RINA have jointly developed an innovative and environmentally friendly high-speed ferry. A full scale prototype of the ALISWATH, presently under construction, will undertake comprehensive sea trials in 2007.

The ALISWATH hybrid design combines the small wetted area of the SWATH concept with a hydrofoil system. The prototype is designed to carry 450 passengers and 60 cars at speeds up to 28 knots, while reducing fuel consumption by 40% compared with existing designs and also reducing wash, emissions and risk of oil pollution. The key to the trimaran-like design is an immersed torpedo-shaped hull with secondary dynamic lift from a sophisticated wing foil system.

ALISWATH is the result of a significant R&D project carried out co-operatively by the Rodriquez Group and RINA with the involvement of the University of Genoa and the Krylov Institute of St. Petersburg. The 64 metre long vessel is being built partly (the hull) at the Pietra Ligure yard and partly (the torpedo and wings) at the Messina yard. The aluminium hull will have an installed power of 6,080 KW, from two stern pods plus twin diesel main engines mounted in the underslung torpedo hull and driving a high efficiency propeller. That compares with 9,300 KW required for the existing Rodriquez vessels of the same capacity and speed, the TMV70 series, which are already in service. The stern pods systems, developed by Rodriquez Marine Systems, are equipped with innovative pulling propellers which provide extra power, high manoeuvrability and allow 11 knots speed in the case of main engine failure.