HF02

The present project is addressed to the study and the development of an innovative wing supported ship able to make more efficient the passengers transportation for the short distances as well as the medium ones.

In comparison with other fast boats, such kind of new ships, nowadays owned by the proponent Company, allow: - a greater speed;
- a more comfortable passenger transportation;
- a lower fuel consumption per passenger and mile.

Anyway the hydrofoil, that over the last decades has not been deeply modified, is an expensive mean of transportation with regards to investment costs as well as operating costs. This is essentially due to high development costs for the wings and the hull that are nowadays produced by almost hand labour technologies. Furthermore, the maintenance costs are also significantly higher than those supported for other fast means of transportation, even because of more complex propulsion and stabilization systems. Saving the development costs will be possible by a meaningful research about wings and hull materials and manufacturing technologies, whereas the fuel consumption could be reduced by an opportune hydro-dynamic study of wings profile and the propulsion systems monitoring.
Furthermore, fast ships are required to be more and more passengers comfortable and environmental-friendly especially for those operating in precinct areas. The latter represent some of the meaningful goals that the project aims to gain.

The result of such a study will lead to:
- develop a prototype on which the sea tests will be performed in order to verify the effectiveness of the introduced innovation;
- increase the Company return arising from a better service at lower costs; sail new routes with an increasing number of passengers (both residents and tourists) with consequent improvements in occupational terms.

Costs

Total: € 7.326.351

Research: € 4.442.931
Development: € 2.103.620
Education: € 779.800

Partners

University of Messina
University of Palermo
Ustica Lines
CNR ITAE