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.