Norway: Effect Ships International has recently launched their Air Supported Vessel (ASV) mono test vessel with pod propulsion. The full-scale 20-metre by 5.4-metre fully instrumented vessel is the result of more than eight years of research and development.
The ASV hulls have a very wide application potential and represent a "breakthrough compared with conventional wet mono and multihulls", according to the company.
On the ASV mono test vessel a lift fan system allows as much as 80 percent of the vessel's operational weight to be supported on a cushion of pressurized air.
A wide range of bow configurations can be used to best meet operational requirements, including various kinds of bulbous bows, extended wave piercing bows and axe bows.
The new ASV technology reduces wetted surface area and friction between hull and water significantly. The size of the engines to propel the ASV's can be reduced compared with the market leading conventional vessels of same size and performance.
Fuel consumption at higher speeds is equally good.
"At approximately 30 knots, conventional mono hulls are using 11 to 13 litres per nautical mile, however the ASV Mono consumes only 5.7 litres in total (propulsion and lift fan power included)," said the company.
"The ASV mono test vessel is using two small Volvo Penta IPS 600s. Pod propulsion, as several propulsion providers are currently offering (Volvo Penta, Rolls Royce, ZF, Cummins and others) combined with the new patented air supported vessel configuration has proven to be an ideal match."
The ASV Mono concept has excellent scaling properties and will be suited for vessels from 13-15 m length upwards to 50 m and more. The new ASV vessels will be suitable for both aluminium and composite construction.
