Alternative Propulsion Plants for High Speed Ships

In October of 1999, an interest developed within the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) to examine power plants for the next classes of large, high-speed, ocean-going ships. These ships will attain higher speeds (over 40 knots) and contain more installed power (over 325,000 hp) than the most powerful merchant ship ever built previously, the SS United States. It was projected that as these new ships prove themselves in transatlantic service, ship owners will be drawn to Pacific Ocean trade routes, requiring larger ships with even higher speeds and power levels. Million-horsepower ships could possibly be on the CAD screens of ship designers by the end of the decade.

The ships now perceived in this category, a precursor of which might be those designed by FastShip, Inc., will use gas-turbine engines similar to the jet engines of the largest airliners. However, with five engines in each ship running on diesel fuel, the Society is concerned about the environmental impact of these ships, even though it will still be much lower, per unit of cargo carried, than typically attributed to airfreight.

In January of 2000, a meeting was held at SNAME headquarters to discuss the feasibility of commercial ship nuclear applications. While it was decided that this topic could prove promising (with further research by the Society), it was also decided that the scope of study should be broadened to include other alternatives, such as fuel cell power. Soon after forming, it was decided to expand the scope of the Panel to examine the feasibility of electric drive options (including evolving technology such as homopolar motors), state of the art and near-term future diesel and gas turbine plants, propulsion thrusters and advanced hull forms.

The resulting Mission of the Ad Hoc Panel is to determine the State of the Art in selected marine propulsion and related systems technology:

• Our emphasis will be on commercial marine applications.
• It will include national and international initiatives and programs.
• It will consider both a current and near-term range of development.
• It will include a literature and technology search as can best be accomplished by the Panel participants.

In addition to low environmental impact, criteria to be considered include the technical and economic feasibility, safety, and social and political acceptability (as time and resources allow). To help accomplish this daunting task, the Panel accepted over thirty members, representing a wide array of Maritime technical disciplines (see Roster below). This new panel is the tenth in a series of Ad Hoc Panels formed under the T&R Steering Committee banner. SNAME Ad Hoc Panels are the mechanisms used by the Society to investigate and address matters of urgent concern to the marine community that justify more timely technical evaluation. Any comments relevant to the Panel's activities are welcomed; the Forum is also accessible to non-SNAME members.

Persons of Ad Hoc Panel #10

Contacts:
Mr. Richard Delpizzo, Chairman ad-hoc panel #10, Rdelpizzo@eagle.org, Richdelp@aol.com

Mr. Stanley Wheatley, Chairman ad-hoc panel #10, Swheatley@csulb.edu, Sdwheatley@aol.com.

Panel Correspondence:
June Letter, 01jun00.pdf
August Letter, 31aug00.pdf
Progress Report, report.pdf
September 2000 Agenda, sep00agenda.pdf

Technical Paper presented at Lloyd's List Events Ship Propulsion Systems International Conference, held December 2000 in Manchester, United Kingdom, techpaper.zip (zipped PDF)