Preliminary conceptual design of 20-passenger class WIG craft

Abstract

This paper describes the preliminary conceptual design of 20-passenger class WIG (Wing-In-Ground effect) craft. Initially, the top level design requirements were postulated by shipping specialists from their commercial perspectives. The postulated WIG craft was planning to be serviced as sea-taxi, cruiser for tourists and for special purposes such as rescue/dispatch mission. A WIG craft with planing-hull form with transom stern having a length to breadth ratio of 6.4 and 20% of transverse dead rise angle at a midship section were proposed. The proposed hull form was tested in towing tank to find out their resistance, running attitude and feasibility. Test results showed that the proposed WIG craft retained the good resistance performance and the stable running attitude. A 1/10 scale of radio controlled WIG model was manufactured and tested at sea to check the proposed WIG craft's configuration design and selected airfoil section. The R/C test results demonstrated the stable and smooth running attitude at designed speed. It satisfied the wave height requirement for take off and landing condition, which corresponds to 2m wave height for the full scale WIG in real sea.