SHIPS with “wavy” hulls could dramatically reduce the wash produced by fast ferries and save lives as well as fuel. That’s the conclusion of naval architects in Taiwan, who have used computer simulations to create a bizarre hull design.
The wash from fast ferries can cause severe problems, particularly in shallow water. They have been blamed for freak waves that have overwhelmed small boats and sent sunbathers fleeing for their lives (Â鶹´«Ã½, 28 August 1999, p 18).
Naval architects study fluid dynamics simulated on computers to predict the wash generated by any particular design of hull. Factors such…
