QUADRAPOD Air-Assist Catamaran

QUADRAPOD is an air-assist catamaran hull form developed to further advance the use of surface effect ship (SES) technology. The primary advantages presented by the QUADRAPOD technology include a significant reduction in propulsion power levels and fuel consumption to achieve a given design speed, and a low-wake signature to reduce wave energy to levels lower than a conventional semi-displacement catamaran hull form. The QUADRAPOD technology is able to achieve these benefits due to the unique hull geometry which incorporates hydrodynamic lift from conventional shaped planning hulls and air cavities to provide additional lift which results in reduced wetted surface resistance. The air cavities are unique in that no flexible skirts are required to maintain cushion pressure. In addition to the hull geometry elimination of high-maintenance flexible skirts, the hull design also allows for the use of conventional propellers, water jet propulsors, or surface drive units with no air ingestion interface issues. The QUADRAPOD air-assist catamaran hull form is a US and internationally patent-pending and trademarked technology that is currently being developed for use in commercial and military vehicle/passenger ferry applications. Size applications have been studied for vessels up to 650 feet in length.