HamiltonJet units for world’s largest fast crewboat

SEPTEMBER 29, 2014 — HamiltonJet, Christchurch, New Zealand, has released some further details on the H900 waterjets that propel the world’s largest FCB (Fast Crew Boat), the 70 m Muslim Magomayev now undergoing sea trials at shipbuilder Incat Tasmania (see earlier story).

The 70 m vessel has a semi-SWATH hull design with active ride control, to provide a more comfortable ride and reduce stress on the crew and passengers. It is capable of carrying 150 passengers and 14 crew, along with130 metric tons of deck cargo, in up to 40 knot winds and seas of 3 m wave heights and is propelled by quad HamiltonJet waterjets powered by four 2,880 kW MTU engines.

The DP2 class semi-SWATH catamaran is designed to achieve a maximum speed of 36 knots and a service speed of 30 knots. In the recent sea trials the vessel achieved 38.7 knots lightship.

HamiltonJet’s Systems Engineer, Adian Priestly says “we are very pleased with the commissioning of the boat, the shipyard has done an excellent job with the installation and the system integration has been seamless and without faults.”

The HT900 waterjets feature a mixed flow pump that provides high efficiency at medium to high speeds and retains the high thrust at zero speed required for dynamic positioning in high sea states.

A new optimized compact astern deflector retains the performance of the HamiltonJet split reverse duct system, but with reduced weight and width for installation in narrow hulls. The deflector is actuated by two fully inboard hydraulic cylinders.

HT waterjet models are fitted with class leading JT nozzle stearing system, also actuated by two fully inboard hydraulic cylinders, which allows for minimal thrust losses whilst responding to steering demands.

The vessel is controlled by four bridge operating stations provided by the HamiltonJet MECS control system. This is seamlessly integrated into the DNV DYNPOS-AUTR dynamic positioning system, which will provide station keeping and improved safety during crew transfers using the “walk to work” passenger transfer system.

Each control station consists of a twin throttle and reverse levers, and a steering device with the port and starboard bridge station also featuring a maneuvering joystick. All stations are interfaced through the appropriate HamiltonJet modules to the voyage data recorder, autopilot, DP System and the monitoring system.