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New Airfoil Design Makes Wind-Powered Ships Viable For Commercial Shipping A 160-foot motor-assisted commercial wind- ship using the principle of the airfoil has been designed by Jeffrey Dunan for a northern California corporation that plans to use the craft for marine research. The $7-million ves- sel is scheduled to be completed next year in Japan by Florida-based Sterling Yacht and Shipbuilders. Mr. Dunan, president of Los Angeles-based Research Developers, Inc., plans to build progressively larger vessels for com- mercial and even military use. The windship is constructed from graphite, a lightweight substance used for a variety of recreational and aerospace equipment. Com- bining the features of a catamaran and a hel- icopter, the airfoil system always faces the Ship designer Jeffrey Dunan says his new design will make wind-powered ships commercially viable once again. wind, regardless of the ship's course. Since the movement of the airfoil is governed by the wind, the vessel, unlike a traditional sailing Corrosion Problems? Replace with IMPELLERS /CASING RINGS I BEARINGS • Corrosion resistant Electrolysis eliminated • Lightweight... decreases start-up load, shipping costs, and wear on bearings • Machined from solid Simsite for perfect symmetry • Safe and easy installation Custom manufacturing Circle 142 on Reader Service Card • Longer life ... lower costs Quality Pump Repair PUMP VALVE COMPANY, INC. 1314 Park Avenue, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030 USA 201*792-0600 212*227-7661 We'll build your barge your way. Our design and construction flexibility, experi- enced craftsmanship, and advanced facilities produce competitively priced, quality barges built for each customer's shipping operation Contact us, and we'll build one your way Brownsville, Pennsylvania 15417 Phone: (412) 785-6100 HBC Barge Designers and Fabricators Marine and Construction Equipment • Anchor-handling and • Towing Pins Towing Winches* • Cargo Winches* • Hydraulic Tuggers • Cranes^ • Anchor Windlasses • Stern Rollers • Pneumatic Monitoring • Capstans Systems • Cable Stops 'Built under license from A/S Hydraulik Brattvaag The Sea Demands The Best P.O. Box 569 Covington. Louisiana 70434 Telephone (504) 892-8216 ship burdened by cumbersome rigging, is not likely to capsize in heavy winds, and this fea- ture has attracted the U.S. Coast Guard which is interested in using the proposed craft as a patrol vessel. In addition to the savings on fuel, high- technology sailing craft of the kind Mr. Dunan proposes don't employ traditional rigging, and no crew is necessary. In fact, he says, one per- son can operate a 60-foot vessel traveling at speeds of up to 35 knots and save up to 40 per- cent of the cost of fuel. The new design calls for a craft capable of traveling at high speeds on the open seas. Un- like other commercial windships, including those developed by the Japanese, Mr. Dunan's airfoil system will operate without the neces- sary aid of a computer to dictate its movement in relation to the wind. Ultimately, Mr. Dunan hopes to build a 650-foot craft with 200,000 square feet of stor- age space capable of transporting bulk and liquid bulk commodities as well as finished products such as electronics. Boghammar Marine Delivers Light-Alloy Pilot Boat Swedish-built light-alloy vessel Turnstone for Liverpool pilots is powered by Volvo Penta marine diesel. The Swedish company Boghammar Marine AB of Lidingo, near Stockholm, recently deliv- ered the new 40-foot light-alloy pilot boat Turnstone to the Mersey Dock & Harbour Company of Liverpool, England. The new Volvo-Penta-powered vessel has a beam of about 13 feet, draft of 29.5 feet, and an all-up weight of 10 tons. The two Volvo Penta TAMD 70E marine diesels are each rated at 198 kw (270 hp) for medium duty operation. During sea trials with six people onboard, the boat achieved a speed of over 20 knots. The Turnstone's design differs from that of the earlier Swedish pilot boats in a number of aspects. To allow the vessel to better cope with the seas running off Liverpool, a second knuckle or chine was built into the hull. The interior layout was changed to meet customer specification, and a small cabin forward of the engines was equipped with pantry and toilet. Designed to accommodate a coxswain, crew- man and four pilots, the Turnstone was deliv- ered from the builder fully equipped except for its radar set which will be fitted in Liverpool. The radar mounting support and cabling was already installed. Boghammar Marine, formed in 1970, is a wholly owned manufacturing subsidiary of Gustafson & Anderssons Varv AB, a company that built its first light-alloy boat in 1928. The company compiled the first International Rules for Building Light-Alloy Boats, for the ICOMIA. 10 Circle 230 on Reader Service Card Circle 215 on Reader Service Card Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
