Maritimo IPS launch reveals world-first safety features
Monday, 17 May 2010
When the new Maritimo C47 Sports Cabriolet is unveiled at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show next week, it will reveal some world-first IPS safety features as well as dynamic looks, styling and performance.
Most important is the world-first introduction of positive buoyancy chambers in the engine room that house the twin Volvo Penta IPS 600 power plants.
Maritimo founder and CEO Bill Barry-Cotter said: "We realised that, with the weight of engines and drives under the cockpit, there was a possibility that a breach of the hull in the engine room could result in catastrophic sinking from the stern. Such an event could trap people forward.
"We worked with renowned naval architect Stuart Ballantyne to integrate positive buoyancy tanks on either side of the engine room to prevent such a disaster."
According to Andrew Nicholson, National Sales Manager at Volvo Penta in Australia, the introduction of positive buoyancy was entirely driven by Maritimo.
He said that, to the knowledge of Volvo Penta, this is the first IPS boat in the leisure market that has watertight bulkheads combined with buoyancy compartments.
"This boat is also the first in the Oceania region to achieve Volvo Penta 'Certified Installation' status," said Mr Nicholson. "This is a rigorous set of standards ranging from the lamination schedule of the hull - particularly the rings through which the pods extend - to fuel return lines running to the bottom of the fuel tank.
"It requires a lot of paperwork as well as time and focus in construction to achieve certification. We have a number of 'accredited' installations in this region, but the Maritimo C47 is the first to gain the ultimate 'certified' status.
"It means among other things that, in the event of an under-water collision, the pods will work as intended and, in an extreme event, sheer off without damaging the integrity of the hull."
Maritimo Marketing Director Luke Durman said "The enhanced safety features are evidence of the engineering excellence that goes into every Maritimo.
"The IPS installation certification is proof that Maritimo's engineering is world-class and a credit to the ingenuity of the engineering teams at Volvo Penta and Maritimo. It is a powerful demonstration of great minds from two organisations working toward a common goal.
"Maritimo has always stood by the mantra that we don't want to be the biggest boat builder in the world - just the best."
Mr Nicholson said the C47 project was "one of the easiest our team has worked on in this region".
"Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the project," he said.
"We know that Bill Barry-Cotter is passionate about hull design and performance, so we anticipated a few robust discussions, but he was happy to listen to us and implement all our recommendations so far as design of the hull around the pods was concerned."
He said the C47 would sport a badge on the helm stating that it was a Certified Installation.
