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These impressively versatile and innovative patrol/work vessels were recently delivered to the Royal New Zealand Navy by Tasmanian builder Sentinel Ships. In typical clunky naval terms, they are classified by the Navy as Littoral Motor Craft (LMC), which is revolutionary considering their intended role.
They are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and have an LOA of 12.6 meters, which is large for the material. However, HDPE is a near-perfect construction material for this type of vessel, and Sentinel Boats and designers One2third Naval Architects have extensive experience in this medium. The ships look well matched and are a great example of Australian defense cooperation.
Steve Quigley, managing director of One2Three Naval Architects, said: “They are our first truly naval platforms and this has been a very successful design-build and delivery program with excellent customer input and support.” Baird Marine. “They are truly multi-purpose vessels that are challenging due to the broad range of roles they need to play, including carrying sub-ships and launching from systems on such a small platform.”
George McGuire, CEO of Sentinel Boats, added: “We considered the capabilities that the Royal New Zealand Navy would require for these vessels and worked closely with One2third to create something unique. Achieving the boarding requirements for a 5.5-meter sub-boat among the multi-purpose ships in the 2018 Festival, which can be launched and recovered from the davit on the RNZN support ship, is no small achievement!”
McGuire praised the design for matching the characteristics of the handmade HDPE process. The final set of acceptance trials at the Port of Auckland demonstrated the vessels’ ability to handle well even at high speeds and rough sea conditions.
“As with all custom builds, ensuring the Littoral Mission Craft (LMC) meets the RNZN’s highly specialized and demanding specifications requires intensive communication and continual improvement. Mutual respect and openness are key.”
McGuire said that because the supply ship’s launch and recovery system is rare on a ship of this size, it required smart thinking from One2third in terms of design and deck space optimization. We then spent a lot of time working on the engine and waterjet geometry and making sure everything fit within the hull to achieve a sloping engine cover to facilitate launch and recovery of the smaller Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB).
“We worked closely with RNZN’s project team and the end result demonstrates what can be achieved when you develop a true partnership with your client.”
At the same time, Quigley believes that delivering innovative designs is always challenging, especially when it comes to certification and military use. Adding parallel commercial and naval certification processes to a relatively new material, namely HDPE, results in complex but rewarding results.
“Our main takeaway from this project was the importance of including all stakeholders in the design process, supported early on with rigorous documentation, and then maintaining collaboration throughout the build process.”
For Quigley, autonomous and remote operations are hot topics in the maritime security industry.
“The rugged anti-magnetic properties of our HDPE container technology, combined with the technology of our autonomous partners, will appeal to most security organizations,” he told us Baird Marine. “As a result, we have made a conscious strategic decision to invest heavily in alternative fuels, high-strength HDPE and autonomous technologies.”
McGuire believes the maritime security industry will grow as what happens in the waters adjacent to Australia, New Zealand and the southwest Pacific region.
“Autonomy could significantly increase the presence on the water of maritime security forces, allowing them to better understand what is going on and respond quickly to any issues. The response is more likely to be via manned vessels – so I’m not All assets in the portfolio will be autonomous – but they will become increasingly common along our coasts, ports and major thoroughfares.
“As autonomy increases a single platform’s time on the water/at sea, the benefits of purchasing an HDPE boat become apparent. Especially the long service life, as once the container is inevitably affected by objects over time, there is no Risk of corrosion or degradation of the FRP idle layer due to electrolysis or water ingress. Impact resistance is another benefit.
McGuire added that there is a growing focus on environmental sustainability. This will see the continued development of hybrid and fully electric or hydrogen propulsion systems.
“Interestingly, HDPE also offers many advantages in terms of sustainability. Once again, the longevity of HDPE means that high-volume operators such as the aquaculture industry do not need to replace their vessels every 10 years. Our vessels have been operating in this industry for over 27 years years and still going strong after installing five new engines!”
McGuire commented that HDPE is also fully recyclable, allowing the material to be used in containers for 40 or even 50 years.
“For the Australian workboat industry,” he said, “advances in propulsion will be key in the minds of buyers. Customers want to know when a technology is mature and reliable enough, and when its operational benefits will outweigh any limitations. Hull Design is also part of the sustainability equation and we are lucky to be able to work closely with the team at One2third as they learn from their activities across many market segments.”
“Australia’s workboats are working harder than ever, particularly in the offshore aquaculture and paramilitary sectors,” Quigley said. “As the workplace extends further offshore, the need for higher speeds, greater range and longer The need for the ability to stay in the workplace at all times challenges traditional design practices. Therefore, our designs now leverage high-speed ship experience and advanced design tools, including CFD and finite element analysis, to optimize these ships without compromising robustness sex and the ability to function in harsh and unforgiving conditions.
Quigley added that One2third expects demand for HDPE platforms to increase rapidly due to their physical toughness, extreme resistance to sinking (because the material is lighter than water) and their noise, vibration and fatigue absorbing properties.
“The polyethylene material increases safety, allowing first responders and critical personnel to be ‘mission ready’ and not suffer from transport fatigue.”
The past year has been a busy one for both One2third and Sentinel Boats. Quigley said there had been a significant rebound in both the travel and commuter markets post-COVID, reflected in inquiry levels and new ship contracts signed, which led to optimism about the future.
“2023 is also a year of change for Sentinel Boats,” McGuire added. “After 30 years of building boats within the PFG Group, the launch of Sentinel Boats as an independent entity allows us to focus on bringing to our customers the significant longevity, impact resistance and ease of maintenance benefits of HPDE-made boats.
These benefits are really magnified in high usage or demanding operational scenarios. As a result, the majority of Sentinel Boats’ customers are from defence, law enforcement, rescue, government services and commercial operators.
“I am very optimistic about the future as more people and organizations begin to understand the lifecycle savings and operational benefits of high-quality HDPE boats,” McGuire said. Baird Marine. “In particular, I think the RNZN LMC project opened a lot of people’s eyes to what our company is capable of.”
For a list of 2023 Best of Award winners, click here.
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