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INCAT's specs for the swift: pdf file

INCAT's specs for the Evolution 10B: .DOC file

The debate above is sort of moot, since the PDF specs for HSV2 from INCAT list a max speed of 38 knots fully loaded at 627 tonnes deadweight. However, the external profiles and dimensions are nearly identical, and the Evolution 10B lists a max speed of 36 knots at 750 tonnes. The 10B lists 40 kts at 375 tonnes and the HSV2 specs 42 knts at 300 tonnes.

(Aside: it kinda makes the Nimitz-class carriers more impressive when you realize their gross weight fully loaded is over 97,000 tonnes, and as somebody else in the thread noted, they can steam indefinitely at 32 knots.)

The engines are the same, specifically 4 x Catapiller 3618 rated at 7080 kW (although the 10B offers a different engine as an option). The water jets are also identical, though the transmission may be a different manufacturer.

So, the bottom line is if you want to know the real top speed of the HSV 2, call up Bay Ferries in Maine, talk to one of their captains, and ask her/him how fast they can make the Cat go.

Of course, as you mention, it is always possible that the military has modified the ship and/or its engines upwards from the specs.

Having glanced a little closer at this ship, my thought is how well this ship would hold up in combat. How much redundancy and survivability is grafted onto what seems to be essentially a civilian design? I guess it's a good thing that it's intended for behind-the-front-lines transport type duties.

Oh, and about that 47 knot number. No weight is listed for the 'lightship' configuration so I guess that would be empty. I would guess that the top speed isn't classified - they just toned down the number to 35+ for the press release so as not to sound too conspicuous.

Christopher

INCAT's specs for the swift: pdf file

INCAT's specs for the Evolution 10B: .DOC file

The debate above is sort of moot, since the PDF specs for HSV2 from INCAT list a max speed of 38 knots fully loaded at 627 tonnes deadweight. However, the external profiles and dimensions are nearly identical, and the Evolution 10B lists a max speed of 36 knots at 750 tonnes. The 10B lists 40 kts at 375 tonnes and the HSV2 specs 42 knts at 300 tonnes.

(Aside: it kinda makes the Nimitz-class carriers more impressive when you realize their gross weight fully loaded is over 97,000 tonnes, and as somebody else in the thread noted, they can steam indefinitely at 32 knots.)

The engines are the same, specifically 4 x Catapiller 3618 rated at 7080 kW (although the 10B offers a different engine as an option). The water jets are also identical, though the transmission may be a different manufacturer.

So, the bottom line is if you want to know the real top speed of the HSV 2, call up Bay Ferries in Maine, talk to one of their captains, and ask her/him how fast they can make the Cat go.

Of course, as you mention, it is always possible that the military has modified the ship and/or its engines upwards from the specs.

Having glanced a little closer at this ship, my thought is how well this ship would hold up in combat. How much redundancy and survivability is grafted onto what seems to be essentially a civilian design? I guess it's a good thing that it's intended for behind-the-front-lines transport type duties.

Oh, and about that 47 knot number. No weight is listed for the 'lightship' configuration so I guess that would be empty. I would guess that the top speed isn't classified - they just toned down the number to 35+ for the press release so as not to sound too conspicuous.

Christopher

These boats only make sense if they can do 40+ knots. Otherwise they might as well be part of the support group. Perhaps the true top speed is classified?

Compare the pictures of the Swift elsewhere in the comments to the pictures of the Bay Ferries Cat that travels from Bar Harbor Maine to Yarmouth NS Canada. I'd wager it's the same basic ship design. Living in NS, Canada, I knew the Cat did more than 35 knots, but I wasn't sure until I found this article that quotes a speed of 55 mph, or about 48 knots. This is actually also listed on the Cat site on the Cat Facts page.

As a matter of fact, some browsing the INCAT website shows a picture of the Bay Ferries Cat under the info for the Evolution 10B model, which is one of the more recent ones, around the size of the HSV 2 Swift. Speed is listed at 38 knots fully loaded and 47 knots lightship.

If you want to see more than a few exterior shots, try this PDF from the manufacturer. Page 6 has some nice deck by deck diagrams with lots of info if you zoom in real close. The helo storage bay is a nice touch.

The Navy is renting this vessel for 11.4 million dollars a year (including operating costs).

For the link impaired, here is the website.

So, the only questions that remain is if the 11.4 mil includes phone support, and are they going to put the ship on ebay when they are done with it?

I was able to have a tour of the bridge of another Incat ferry (builder of this boat) which uses similar technology - they did have paper charts for backup (mandated by law actually) on that boat, as well as some more standard equipment, as well as the computerised bridge.

It's pretty cool how they steer this boat - it can move any direction as it powered by steerable water jets. The wheel on the bridge is 10cm across, which just seems weird compared to traditional bridges. One of the big selling points of the Incat ferries is that they dock quickly and in a small area, because they can come in sideways.

I can tell you from personal experience that they are pretty damned unpleasant in even 3m swells... At least half of the passengers (including myself) quite sick.

This boat is an Incat fast ferry, built in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Incat have made about 40% of the large fast catermaran ferries around the world.

They used to run an Incat ferry across Bass Strait from Tasmania to mainland Australia. It would get from Devonport (Tasmania) to Melbourne in about 6 hours - the traditional ferries took 14 hours. Quite a difference, and it's really neat being on a boat that size when it starts moving. However, Bass Strait has some pretty impressively bad weather (try looking for Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race to get an idea)... The Incat ferries were just not suited to it (for the general public, anyway).

They can still move quickly if you don't mind lots of extremely sick people on board (soldiers are supposed to be tough, right?). Incat have won (and currently hold) the trans-Atlantic Blue Riband (Hales Trophy) (and have actually won it three times - usually while delivering their ferries!) - with an average speed of 38.8 knots (about 72km/h)

Catamarans are double hulled sailboats, small difference :)

"Catamaran" is a term used (perhaps loosely) for any twin-hulled vessel e.g. the Incat high speed ferries.