Mitsubishi's High-Speed Passenger Boat Promises New Era In Smooth Sailing

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) of Japan has developed a "dream ship" with pitchand roll-free cabins mounted on hydraulic controlled shock absorbers.

The 48 V2 -foot-long, 17-gross-ton catamaran, which is the first Hi-Stable Cabin Craft (HSCC) high-speed ship, is made of fiber reinforced plastics, has a passenger capacity of 12, and will be used for cruising on the Inland Sea around Mihara Port. The vessel, the Ukishiro, was built at MHI's Shimonoseki Shipyard & Engine Works and will be delivered to Higashi Chugoku Ryoju Kosan.

The cabins remain stable even in rough seas, allowing passengers to enjoy a comfortable cruise without fear of seasickness. A computer detects pitch and roll and dampens them by adjusting hydraulic cylinders, keeping the cabins level. The impact of motion is also absorbed by the shock-absorbing system.

In additon to high-speed vessels, the Hi-Stable Cabin Craft technology can be applied to infirmary cabins on large passenger ships, and precision laboratories and helicopter pads of research vessels.

MHI has completed a tentative design for a larger version of the ship for tourism and leisure purposes for marketing in the Inland Sea area.

For additional information and free literature from MHI, Circle 60 on Reader Service Card

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 6, Feb 1988

Read Mitsubishi's High-Speed Passenger Boat Promises New Era In Smooth Sailing in Pdf, Flash or Html5 edition of February 1988 Maritime Reporter

Other stories from February 1988 issue

Content

Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.