Page 30: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (July 1998)

Its CODAG (combined diesel and gas) propul- sion installation and fine lines not only give astonishing speed and deadweight combina- tions, trialed at 41.3 knots on 90 percent maxi- mum continuous rating and 44 knots on virtu- ally 100 percent at 800-dwt, but also allow eco- nomic summer and winter service powering permutations.

In today's challenging business environment,

RINA has sought to embellish its role as a clas-

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Via Pian Masino, 12 16011 ARENZANO - Genova Italia tel. 010/911 03 96 - fax 010/911 10 65 sification body, with the objective of being per- ceived as a reliable and active partner for designers, shipyards and shipowners.

Thus, in addition to day-to-day service sup- port for design approval and construction sur- vey, the society's technicians cooperate with builders and naval architects to evaluate the impact of innovative proposals and solutions, including developments in materials technolo- gy, on both the structural and global safety of vessels.

In its comprehensive approach to the sector, to enhance RINA's classification of high-speed craft, a range of advanced analytical tools are employed to meet the industry's needs, expressed in the follow- ing services: Guide to failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA); Rules for the evaluation of noise and vibration;

Preliminary Design Appraisal (PDA), entailing definition, at an early stage in the design process, of the most appropri- ate framework of rules, based on critical analysis of the main drawings and char- acteristics of the vessel, not least in regard to midship section, damage stabil- ity and structural fire protection;

Structural Analysis Services (SAS), employing finite element analysis of pre- defined structural parts; and Hull

Construction Optimisation (HCO), for optimization of scantlings and details, so as to achieve weight reductions and improvements in production engineering.

On the basis of its experience with pas- senger ships, the society is now also geared up to undertake evacuation analyses of an order to evaluate high- speed vessel designs with regard to req-

Rodriguez — Building On Aquastrada Concept

One of Europe's most skilled practitioners in fast monohull design and construction, resurgent Rodriquez Cantieri Navali is hoping to augment its orderbook shortly by bringing negotiations for two

Aquastrada TMV114-dass vessels to a successful conclusion.

The 370-ft. (113.5-m) design, offering capacity for 800 passen- gers and 218 cars at a cruising speed of 38 knots, is one of the lat- est derivatives of the concept first applied in Tirrenia's 335-ft. (102- m) sisters Guizzo and Scatto of 1993-94.

Employing an all-diesel configuration developing 24,000-kW, in its standard specification, and driving two steerable waterjets and one booster unit, the TMVU4 is the subject of interest by an Italian regional operator.

Five Aquastrada ferries in the 328-ft. (100-m) category are already in service on Mediterranean routes, and Rodriquez has developed its offering with a host of versions upwards of 65-m, including more recent proposals in the 100 to 150-m range. Like the

TMV114, the TMV145 is being actively promoted, os a versatile breed of vessel arranged for 1,500 passengers plus 425 cars, or 30 trucks plus 171 cars, with varying propulsion permutations offering eco- nomic cruising speeds from 26.5 to 37.5-knots.

A quartet of 230-ft. (70-m) ferries based on the Aquastrada phi- losophy is in hand at Rodriquez' northern yard in Pietra Ligure for

The first of the 28.5-knot series is due to be phased into service this summer with Campania Regionale Marittima (Caremar), taking 550 passengers and handling 50 cars on to two deck levels via a stern door.

The Messina headquarters yard in Sicily, meanwhile, is busy with the construction of three 164 ft. (50 m) monohull ferries for Italian

State Railways, employing a design promising 29-knot crossings of the Strait for 500 passengers at a time. The Sicilian premises are also occupied with a second 118 ft. (36-m) Foilmaster hydrofoil for Ustica

Lines, and a 34-knot, 400-passenger, proprietary stabilized monohull (Monostab) ordered by Dubrovnik-based Atlas for operation between

Croatia and Venice.

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