By
Cherie Rowlands |
The first model testing of Blue Star Line’s proposed newbuild, Titanic II, took place in a 300 m tank in Hamburg, Germany, between 9-12 September.
Hydrodynamic service and consulting group, Hamburg Ship Model Basin (HSVA), put the 9.3 m wooden prototype through its power and propulsion paces in a milestone moment ahead of vessel construction.
“The model test by HSVA including resistance and open water tests, is an important part of the process in the Titanic II project,” said Blue Star Line chairman Clive Palmer. “HSVA tested at speeds of up to 23 knots, which is crucial for assessing the speed and power performance of this prototype vessel design.”
Model testing is the only accurate and reliable method for a passenger vessel prototype such as Titanic II, according to HSVA director of resistance and propulsion Dr Uwe Hollenbach. He said: “Present-day passenger vessels have a completely different type of main hull parameters and therefore are unsuitable as references. Model testing the speed and power performance is one of the critical aspects for a prototype vessel and needs to be verified before a construction contract is completed. Self propulsion tests determine the optimal sense of wing propeller rotation, the neutral wing thruster angle and optimal load distribution between wing and centre units.”
Titanic II is the company’s 5,000th model test and was marked with a naming ceremony at its Hamburg facilities. Hollenbach said: “The Titanic II model was given the HSVA model number 5000. In honour of Titanic II and Blue Star Line, we also held a naming ceremony and launched the model on a traditional slipway.”
The newbuild is to be launched China in 2016 ahead of her maiden passenger voyage is to retrace her predecessor’s original journey from Southampton to New York.