| dc.description.abstract | The P 47 series Fast Attack Craft (FAC) of the Sri Lanka Navy has been designed to
achieve a design speed of 40 knots. Presently, the P 47 series consists of 05 No’s of
FACs namely P 471, P 472, P 473, P 474 and P475 which have the capability of reaching
the maximum speed of 40 knots during post-slipping trials on completion of Routine
Under Water Maintenance (RUWM) or Hull Cleaning design. However, after one to
two months of operation, the maximum achievable speed of the craft is reduced to
25 – 28 knots gradually. This significant performance drop of P 47 series FAC has
affected its speed, acceleration, and manoeuvrability. Consequently, this reduction
compromises the operational efficacy of the vessels and creates considerable barriers
to naval operations. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the primary causes
of these problems and also to propose suitable solutions. A comprehensive analysis
using NavCad software and Savitsky method was employed to simulate/model the
craft’s hydrodynamic behaviour under various load conditions with LCG shifts and
adjustments to weight distribution and experimental trials were carried out to validate
the theoretical models. This investigation provides empirical evidence and practical
solutions for a long-lasting issue of performance reduction in P 47 series FAC in the Sri
Lanka Navy while filling the gap of available literature. The research findings enhance
the understanding of planning hull dynamics while providing actionable insights for
naval architects, engineers and decision-makers. Further, this study provides directions
to explore further optimization techniques and real-world applications in future | en_US |
