High Speed Craft

A High Speed ​​Craft (HSC ) is a high-speed watercraft, also called high-speed ferry. High-speed vessels are distinguished from the rest with in relation to other vessels high speed.

The first high-speed ferries were hydrofoils and hovercraft later.

In the late 1980s were large catamarans, the design inspired by sailing catamarans, popular. Most high-speed crafts serve as passenger ferries. Larger catamarans can motor vehicles - transport and freight - even buses.

Monohulls are mostly driven by medium-speed diesel engines with water jet propulsion. Hovercrafts have a rule about diesel engines or gas turbines, which drive water jet propulsion or propeller.

The safety of high speed vehicles is regulated by the High Speed ​​Craft Codes of 1994 and 2000, by the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The routes of HSC are partially marked on nautical charts to make other craft at the risk of especially fast-moving and so unexpectedly emerging vehicles carefully.

High-speed catamarans

The special double hull and associated lower water resistance a catamaran achieved significantly higher speeds than a conventional ferry. Due to the broad design a catamaran is also quite capsize, and at comparatively shallow draft. However, when a catamaran capsized, is compared to a ship hull and keel with easy no hope that he constantly straightens up again.

High-speed catamarans are available in various sizes. Ranging from small passenger ferries, which are used exclusively for the carriage of passengers, and with speeds sometimes exceeding 48 knots ( 80 km / h) are traveling to adult ferries. Such large catamarans carrying passengers and freight can take up to 1500 passengers and about 360 cars on board and reach speeds of over 40 knots at full speed.

A U.S. air cushion vehicle

One older hydrofoil

One of the legendary Hovercraft in Calais

HSC in the Philippines