Engines Installed on Austal’s Trimaran

Austal’s next generation 334.6 ft high speed trimaran has had its unique three-engine layout successfully installed ahead of the vessel’s launch next month.

The vehicle-passenger ferry, which is being built at Austal’s Western Australian facilities and is currently available for purchase, is scheduled for completion by February 2010.

Unique to the vessel is a patented three engine layout that combines with the trimaran’s hydrodynamic hull form to deliver fuel efficiency across a range of operating conditions. Each of the three MTU 20V 8000 M71L diesel engines produce 9,100kW at less than 1,200rpm and offer the world’s highest power-to-weight ratio in their power range.

Head of Austal Design, Dr. Tony Armstrong, said the three-engine arrangement, along with Austal’s trimaran technology, presented a number of significant benefits to operators.

“A three-engine layout saves weight over the traditional four-engine layout, delivering improvements to fuel consumption and daily running costs,” Dr. Armstrong said.