CURRENT FOCUS & BUISNESS PLAN
A number of fuel consumption tests were carried out on the prototype, Stormfågeln, on 8 October 2008.
The boat – which is 14.5 m long and weighs 8.35 tonnes, exclusive of crew and fuel – uses new technology and a new design of hull for its surface-piercing propellers. The tests showed that the fuel consumption of Stormfågeln at a speed of 58 knots and at 1,800 rpm was as low as 4.1 l of diesel per nautical mile: a remarkably low consumption for a boat of this weight.
Stormfågeln not only offers the potential for lower emissions and lower fuel costs relative to conventional technology; it also solves the shortcomings that are normally associated with surface-piercing propeller technology. For example, Stormfågeln has no problems reaching and maintaining planing mode, and the boat has good manoeuvrability when using reverse gear. Furthermore, wave creation is very low.
For this reason, Stormfågeln has focussed solely on segments, such as paramilitary applications, that already use surface-piercing propeller technology. The company, however, at this stage does not want to jump to unjustified conclusions from the tests; it is satisfied with the conclusion that the company concept may be interesting for other segments within the boating industry.
A break-through for Stormfågeln – commercialisation beckons
There is currently an expressed focus onto technology that offers low fuel consumption and thus a more environmentally sensitive approach than conventional technology. The fuel tests are a break-through for Stormfågeln, but before the company can conclude that its concept is commercially viable for major parts of the boating industry, it must verify the significance of our results using comparative tests. This is to be the next step, and the company is now embarking on this step.
The first step has already been taken. An independent and renowned expert company – Ocke Mannerfelt Design – has been given Stormfågeln test results. The first report from Mannerfelt shows that the propulsion of the Stormfågeln, together with its unique hull design, is up to 10% more efficient than a normal well-designed hull with the latest propulsion technology. In the range of speeds used by Stormfågeln, these values can correspond to an improvement of 35% above those achieved by conventional in-line technology.
Interesting high-volume segments now become possible
The Ocke Mannerfelt report shows that Stormfågeln can be interesting in more segments than those that the company has focused on until now. Conventional hull designs and propulsion technologies that the report refers to can be found in motor yachts, for example. This is a new segment for Stormfågeln. But there are other parameters that must be considered; not only fuel consumption, and these parameters must also be investigated. The tests also show that the boat develops a high power at a low rate of revolution. This can be interesting for electrical hybrid motors, and this is something that will also be examined.
From promising idea to final product with major environmental benefits
The fuel tests have provided Stormfågeln with the first answers it was hoping for, in order to take the next step towards commercialisation of the concept. What is now necessary is to verify the significance of the test results, providing clear proof of the advantages, in order to be able in this way to present commercial opportunities. This will include further direct comparisons between various hull and propulsion applications, preparative strength analyses of the propulsion, survey of applications for segments using lower speeds, and full-scale testing.
