Optimizing Hull Design for a Battery-Electric Inland Waterway Catamaran

The electrification of maritime vessels in the Philippines is at an early stage, with inland waterways emerging as prime candidates for this transition. This study focuses on optimizing hull design for an electric catamaran ferry to be operated on an inland waterway system in the Philippines. Three hull designs were evaluated: broad, tapered, and fair form, each influenced by different battery capacities and operational requirements. Hydrodynamic simulations using Maxsurf, statistical simulation using the design of experiments (DOE) feature of JMP software and iterative design refinements with Rhinoceros software were employed to minimize drag and enhance efficiency. The fair form hull demonstrated the highest energy efficiency, requiring 31.08 kW at 8 knots cruising speed, with an energy economy of 2.57 kWh per km while also satisfying the other restrictions determined from the deployment site. This integrated approach underscores the importance of hull design in enhancing the performance and sustainability of electric ferries.