North Sea Boats, the Swedish owned boat building company based in East Java, Indonesia have successfully launched the Trimaran petrol vessel.
The 63 metre long vessel, built for the Indonesian Navy will be named KRI Klewang after a traditional Indonesian single edged sword. The trimaran combines a number of existing advanced technologies starting with a wave-piercing trimaran hull form, constructed exclusively of infused vinylester carbon fibre cored sandwich materials for all structural elements, with external “Stealth” geometry and features intended to reduce detection.
The vessel has been built for patrolling the littorals. The hull shape is intended to allow high speeds to be maintained and thus maximise crew operational capability in the seas around the Indonesian Archipelago.
Powering and propulsion is courtesty of multiple MAN V12 diesel engines, coupled to MJP 550 water jets, located in both the centre hull and each of the two side hulls for maximum propulsive thrust and manoeuvrability.
The use of carbon foam sandwich composites on this scale in naval application is unprecedented outside of Scandinavia, the decision to construct the vessel from composite materials offers a few main benefits including reduced weight with the laminated carbon fibre (which has almost half the density of aluminium alloys), reduced maintenance (carbon composites cannot corrode and exhibit extremely high fatigue limits), tailorability of radar cross section (true flat panel geometry can be attained due to no distortion during assembly), extremely high geometrical accuracy (permits as-built hull shape to remain faithful to theoretical optimums), nil magnetic signature, reduced thermal and acoustic signatures etc.
With emphasis placed on the use of advanced manufacturing techniques on this job a combination of training and robust systems guaranteed to offer high part quality, repeatability and geometrical accuracy. The use of infusion technology in particular offers high level of confidence in the quality and consistency of fiber wet out, high resin to fiber ratios, low void content and excellent bond quality between skins and core as well as at core joints.
In order to achieve a high level of quality in the composite construction, North Sea Boats used high volume, vacuum infusion systems which offer high confidence in the integrity of the structures involved. The flat, facetted panel geometry of the ship lends itself well to high volume production systems, minimising tooling costs. And advances in numerically controlled milling machine technology also create extremely high levels of assembled part accuracy.
The finished Trimaran offers a stable weapons platforms and can carry various Missile systems which can be mounted high on the superstructure giving better range and firing arc. Sensors can also be installed high up without concerns for stability. This first ship will carry a turn-key system, including rapid fire CIWS, combat control and missile systems. The exact configuration of this system is still classified.
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Completion will take place after launching, and extensive sea trials and tests will commence in October. KRI KLEWANG is expected to be fully operational in 2013.
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