IMAA's PACSCAT Concept
IMAA has developed a novel form of craft able to carry substantial payloads at relatively high speeds.
The Partial Air Cushion Supported CATamaran (PACSCAT) embodies specially shaped catamaran
sidehulls with partial air cushion support. The air cushion is generated by installed fans and is retained
between fore & aft seals. These limit the air loss and result in the vessel having a shallow draught and
reduced resistance.
This concept has been the subject of a European Commission funded study intended to develop
a suitable design for river freight operations. The "PACSCAT" project (EC no. GRD2-2001-50116)
commenced in 2006 with fourteen European partners and nearly Euro 1M of support under the
European Community Growth programme. Its goal was to develop low wash vessels designed
to operate on the Rhine and Danube carrying payloads of about 2000t with a service speed of
around 20kt (37km/hr). The hull draught had to be as little as 1.5m to cope with shallow water
conditions.
IMAA was responsible for the technical & scientific administration of the "PACSCAT" study,
and led the design team which included:
Germanischer Lloyd
White Young Green Structural Consultants
Wartsila Propulsion Netherlands
Witt & Sohn Fan manufactures
Checkmate Avon Seal manufactures
The project was co-ordinated by Marinetech South. Hydrodynamic support was provided by
the Ship Science department of the Faculty of Engineering Sciences at the University of Southampton.
The University was also responsible for the financial control of the project.
For information on military PACSCAT designs, double click:
To return to the main page, double click:
