HIGH SPEED SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE VEHICLE WITH WING - HYDRODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS AND FREE-RUNNING EXPERIMENTS

Studies into a new type of high speed marine transportation began in Japan in 1987. The target was to realize sea transportation at a speed of around 50kn with more than a 1000-ton payload. The service distance is less than 1000km. The new type of high speed vehicle (HSV) uses the buoyancy force as the supporting force giving it the capability to accommodate relatively heavy cargoes. However, because the use of the buoyancy force increases the resistance at higher speeds, HSV reduces the resistance by the semisubmergence by the downward dynamic lifting force of the wings fitted to the hull. A 2m long self-propelled model has been manufactured for free running tests in open seas. This paper discusses its hydrodynamic characteristics and presents the results of the free-running towing tank tests.