Page 62: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (January 1995)

First FBM-Built TriCat Named demonstrated the advantages of ad- ditional forward buoyancy. Signifi- cant differences, however, lie not only in its size but also in its diesel powered propulsion system and top speed of 34 knots.

The FBM order was however won against considerable worldwide competition. Keeping weight to a minimum was of paramount im- portance.

Air Vehicles Ltd. designed a new energy-absorbing seat frame and developed a new deck attachment which reduces weight and is quicker to install while LEC Marine ap- plied every initiative in providing the complete electrical installation using lightweight aluminium alloy for the casings of major electrical items.

To maintain a streamlined ex- ternal appearance Seaglaze Marine was contracted to supply tinted poly- carbonate windows which could be bolted and sealed directly on to the superstructure complete with con- cealed fixings. The wheelhouse win- dows presented more complex prob- lems requiring 15mm thick curved heated laminated glass for use with special Seaglaze clamp-in frame extrusion. Another challenge faced

Altair Filters International, com- missioned to supply intake and ex- haust systems to the gas turbines which not only had to meet strin- gent air filtration specifications, but also operate as quietly as possible.

The solution proved to be a com- pact, robust and lightweight unit with a novel mounting arrange- ment which allows the majority of the system to be conveniently in- stalled at deck level at any suitable stage of vessel construction.

A combination of proven Altair vane separator and barrier filter systems, together with silencers, make up the combustion intakes, while the ventilation air system con- sists of vane separators, silencers, approved fire dampers, intake fans and exhaust weather louvres.

When delivered early this year,

Universal Mk 2001 will not steal the show for long before being joined by two sister vessels, one from FBM and the other from Rosyth Royal

Dockyard in Scotland, built under sub-contract. The superstructure of a third TriCat will soon be joined to finished hulls at FBM's Cowes facil- ity.

The Hong Kong order has en- hanced fortunes at the yard, and

FBM's outlook grew even brighter with a $19.4-million order for four (plus two options) catamarans for the commuter route across the River

Tagus in Lisbon, Portugal.

It is also intriguing to learn that

CTS-Parkview has signed a joint venture agreement with Aboitiz

Transport System to run high speed ferry services in the Philipppines.

In the first foreign joint venture of its kind in the country since deregu- lation of the local ferry traffic, the first route planned will provide a service between Batanjas and

Calapan. (See related story page 26A of this issue). It is understood that one vessel will initially operate the route with additional ferries be- ing introduced over the next two years. These will be selected either from the existing fleet or will be purpose-built for the company by

FBM.

Stella Polaris, the first of Dockstavarvet's Alupilot

Swedish builder ready

Following delivery of Stella Po- laris, Swedish yard Dockstavarvet's brand new Alupilot 14000 design, the yard has now virtually com- pleted the first in a further three vessel order, again placed by the

Danish Pilots Authority. All will be identical in configuration with the exception of wheelhouse design, two of which will follow "British" styling on a single level.

Stella Polaris, now in operation with Great Belts Pilots at Svendborg, is based on a Murray Cormack hull that has been modified for increased speeds and includes all the proven lay-out and component details from the successful MC M15M and MC 13M boats delivered to the same customer in 1992-1993. 14000 design, on trials. to deliver first of three

Measuring 46 ft. (14 m) x 16 ft. (4.75 m) beam, she has an all-round visibility raised "Scandinavian" style wheelhouse and semi-sunk saloon seating for up to eight pilots. Both types of wheelhouse available are resiliently mounted to ensure a noise level well below 70 db(A) at full speed. Power is supplied by twin mounted Scania DSI14 diesels each developing 450 hp at 1,800 rpm driv- ing Teignbridge propellers via ZF

BW 160 gears. As such, she is ca- pable of 23 knots and has an endur- ance of285 nm.The first of the latest orders (i.e. the second to the new design) is expected to be delivered to

Kalundborg immediately with the following two to Dragor and Grenaa in May and June of next year.

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