Bragging about the 102M's "fuel efficiency"

Fuel efficiency is all relative. This vessel would be truly fuel efficient if it was powered by 2 of these engines rather than 3. The comparison that Austal is making is that 3 are more fuel efficient than 4 engines, but 3 are still too many. Just one of these engines burns about 500 gallons of MDO per hour. Their standard propulsion on most of their HSV's is 4 of these engines for about 2000 gallons of MDO burned per hour. The 102M would burn about 1500 gallons of MDO per hour. That's a little more than $4500 per hour at current MDO prices. The routes that these ships take around the world are usually more than an hour. They gotta have steady business to make it work. Even in Japan last year, a company didn't have enough business to justify the fuel expense with comparable vessels. The most telling part of this story that I noticed was that they are building this vessel without a known buyer? Is that true? This vessel is still a monument to the profligate habits of a pre-peak oil world.

MarineLog, September 8, 2009 Credit above photo: MarineLog

Engines installed in next-generation Austal trimaran

Austal's next-generation 102 m next generation high speed trimaran is moving steadily towards its February 2010 completion at the company's Western Australian shipyard...

It is currently available for purchase.

See also: "Engines installed on Austal's next generation trimaran"

'The unique three-engine layout of Austal’s next generation trimaran' Credit above art: Austal

Austal’s next generation 102-metre high speed trimaran has had its unique three-engine layout successfully installed...

A monument to the profligate habits of a pre-peak oil world.