The idea first came in the 80s when we
were designing big competition trimarans that we gave
reduced-size outriggers and associated foils.
The boat industry has been at a standstill
has for some thirty years - with no real development except for
container carriers. We believe that in applying a whole set of
technological innovations one could build a truly revolutionary
vessel. Our concept involves incorporating new machinery like
Rolls Royce hydrojets, which were designed for big ships, and
the range of new alloys currently available, like Sealium
produced by the Pechiney company - components that are
perfectly suited to new speed performances and demanding
sea-keeping requirements.
Gilles
Vaton
Click on the shots for enlargements
As of 1983, and concurrently with
designing monohull racers, Gilles Vaton developed his first
racing trimarans. They had the following innovative features:
- slender, planing hull
- vertical wave-piercing bow
- ground-effect from the wing-arms, arched
and profiled in aeronautic fashion
- foils fitted to the outriggers
- wing-shaped mast with wind-activated
swivelling (taken up again recently on the best ORMA
multihulls)
The giant 26-metre foiler-trimaran Charles
Heidseick IV inaugurated the concept,
followed in 1985 by the foiler PACA , its
staggering performances confirming the
excellence of the project.
The way was open for an initial project
for a BGV-type high-speed ferry. Its design in 1986-87 was the
veritable starting point of this revolutionary concept applied
to maritime transport.
The design documents and patent
applications were filed at the end of the 80s and allowed
studies of successive projects to be developed in close
symbiosis with the way the market was rapidly developing.
Charles Heidseick IV
BGV A 103
There followed a first session of tank
testing (DCN, 1999-2000) and the design work on the first range
of fast ferries.
On its heels came design work on a set of
military and freight applications that broadened the
applications of the concept and demonstrated its wide-ranging
possibilities.
At the present time concept application is
targeted especially at the largest vessels, pushing their
performance potential ever higher - performance predictions
confirmed by extensive tank testing programmes.
81% of the world's freight is maritime yet
the sole technological development at the end of the 20th
century was the appearance of container carriers!
Europe's continental road and rail traffic
is nearing suffocation point and the concept of mixed
transportation using "sea highways" has come to the
fore.
Rapid maritime transportation of
passengers and vehicles is a market of the future that is as
yet poorly exploited; inefficient optional solutions persist at
a time when energy-saving and pollution concern are key
factors.
Maritime transportation is competitive,
especially where vessels provide the necessary improved speeds
and reliability that can guarantee efficient operation in even
severe weather conditions.
BGV N 103
bgv design - 9 bis, rue Protis - 13007 Marseille -
Téléphone : +33 (0)4 91 54 00 00 - Fax : +33 (0)4
91 54 82 40
