INNOVATIONS
Innovations are at the core of Marell, and our purpose and culture, where our ambition is to design and perfect the next generation high-speed interceptors.
We are proud of many of our unique innovations that will enhance our crafts further, in important areas like sustainability, performance and safety. Below we have included 10 examples of our unique innovations.
Signature center steering console
The center steering console is a unique Marell signature innovation across our M17, M15, M12 and M9 series. The center console enables optimum sight, most secure experience and highest comfort for the helmsman and crew during both boarding and sharp turns. The helmsman is always in full control with perfect sight along both sides of the vessel, independent of turning direction, heel, or speed. The position and height of the shock absorbing driver’s seat and the railings on fore deck are thoroughly lined out, to maintain an open view and sightline. All dashboards are designed to avoid reflection and are covered with black anti-reflex mats. Even smaller vessels like the M9 are equipped with three large screens creating an unrivalled center steering cock pit experience for optimized helmsman control, visibility, and safety.
Hybrid-ready and lightweight hulls
Marell has launched an effort with the aim to become the most renowned shipyard for high-speed interceptors in contributions to CO2 reductions. In order to achieve this, we have designed and created an industry unique hybrid-ready and lightweight hull for high-speed interceptors. The hulls are optimized for energy and emission savings and are therefore the perfect platform for hybrid and electric propulsion systems. The lightweight and strong hull, with a perfectly balanced dynamic lift, reduces hull friction and wave resistance across the whole speed range, which results in lowest possible energy consumption. The EV / hybrid engines, battery packs, fuel tanks and technology deployments are positioned in an innovative and a unique way, to keep the balance and secure low resistance of the craft across all speeds.
Hull design delivering low waves and high-speed
The Marell hull design has proven to stand out against competition as a main source of differentiation, through extensive testing and real-life experience in heavy seas. The negative angled chines and lifting strakes parallel to the keel line creates a dynamic lift which reduces hull resistance and gives higher speed and better grip in water during turns. The balance between the strakes and the deadrise assures no disturbing hump for the driver and minimizes the bow and stern waves at all speed. The sides of the hull are slanted to reduce dynamic wave friction and create a course stable hull also during sharp turns without any risk for chine tripping. The hull design leverages insight and experiences from winning offshore racing design and from high-speed aluminum law enforcements crafts.
Optimized HMI design with best UI/UX experience
Marell invests significantly in the human-machine interface (HMI) design for both driver and navigator across all our high-speed crafts. As an example, the navigator for the larger interceptors can mirror the navigation information from his screen at SB to the screen in front of the helmsman, giving upfront real time information. The helmsman can then fully focus on the high-speed intercept or boarding mission with safe driving regardless of weather conditions. Night vision cameras are part of the standard configuration for all Marell interceptors. All positions of controls and monitoring displays are assessed with VR/AR technology and in our active customer reference panels, to find the most optimum position of the crew in relation to the controls and displays. In summary, the Marell series will provide the helmsman and navigator with the best user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) available in the market.
Industry leading manufacturing approach
The hull is built in jig, to keep the keel line, lifting strakes and bottom plating in position for welding within very tight tolerances, which makes the hull exceptionally straight and course stable. The framework is built up with precision-cut frames and longitudinals, locked to each other before welding, which makes the hull design torsion stiff and strong. All spray rails and lifting strakes are pressure tested after assembly, to ensure tightness and reduce risk of corrosion. The small grid pattern built up by the frames and longitudinals creates a flat and strong hull without buckling or vibration tendencies of hull plate in heavy sea, which reduces fatigue and further increases vessel life span.
Unique low and open aft deck design
The aft deck is formed as an easily accessible platform without obstructions, which makes the vessel suitable for special equipment, bulky cargo, and SAR operations. The air- and watertight access panels and doors to the engine and technical rooms support ease of maintenance and service. The air intakes to the engine room are inside the bulwark, positioned at aft wall of wheelhouse which secures the air flow without ingress of water spray and maximizes the aft deck space without any obstructions. The low platform can be used as storage and launch area for smaller RIBs and Watercrafts with rollers fitted to the aft gunwale, as the deck is open to the aft without bulwark. Due to the open design, the drainage of the aft deck will be instantly, no need for scuppers or other means of drainage.
Sandwich composite panels for all climate zones
All Marell vessels are built with a deck structure formed as a grid of aluminum beams, designed to carry sandwich composite panels. The lightweight panels are acting as both sound isolation and insulation against heat and coldness. This creates a boat deck less prone to transmit noise and more suitable to work in all climate zones. The panels are lighter than normal aluminum deck structure and will act as elastic zones as deck surface temperature will vary from time to time. For example, this will reduce heat inducted stresses in the hull deck area while also being optimized for colder scenarios. This unique feature defines Marell as optimally fit for both tropical climate zones around equator to colder latitudes like Svalbard or even the Artic.
Vacuum formed GRP roof design
The roof design and its integration to the rest of the vessel can also be innovated. We introduced and launched 2020 the first vacuum formed Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) roof with sliding hatch and glass roof, when we delivered the first M15 Patrol to the Stockholm Sea Police. This construction reduces weight and lower the vertical center of gravity of the craft. Moreover, it creates a craft that is lighter and more stable at sea in slow and high-speed operations. The tinted glass roof creates an open and light atmosphere in the wheelhouse together with the sliding roof. The roof is bonded and sealed to the wheelhouse framing leveraging industry leading bonding techniques.
Deployment of leading bonding technique
There are significant benefits from using the latest bonding techniques compared to traditional mechanical fastening solutions. The deck panels, windows and roof are all integrated with an adhesive bond. This creates a uniform load distribution without inherent stresses. The technology of bonding is also used for fastening of masts and doors, as this makes the application robust, durable and watertight, without any risk of fatigue cracks in fasteners. As such, bonding solutions are the most optimal engineering approach, while also the most aesthetic and low-weight solution from a design perspective. Moreover, all bonding solutions deployed by Marell are based on the latest environmentally friendly technology suitable to aluminum, steel and composite in marine environments across temperatures from minus 50 to plus 80 degrees Celsius
Recessed bollards and railings
The sturdy design of the bollards and railings creates a secure sensation for the crew when walking on deck, boarding other vessels, or mooring the craft. From a safety perspective, this is in particularly important during cold and bad weather, when carrying large gloves and the crew is exposed to higher risks. All bollards and railings are all nicely recessed in narrow passages along the bulwark and wheelhouse cabin to avoid the risk of getting material or gear caught accidentally. All bollards and railings are made of the same aluminum material as the hull and they are welded to the hull and to the vessel superstructure, which forms a solid and durable construction that extends the vessel life length.