Accommodation Plan

This image shows the breakdown of accommodation spaces into passenger cabins (pale pink), public spaces (blue) and the main stairwells/atrium (yellow). All grey spaces are crew accommodation or machinery/tank spaces. The outlined sections of the top deck indicate the areas to be covered with solar panels.

The preliminary GA (General Arrangement) of all public decks is nearly complete, and will hopefully be posted over the weekend.

Revised Cabin Layout: Large 2-Berth Outside (Previously with balcony)

Concerns were raised that balconies would become uninhabitable due to wind when the ship is in the Atlantic at speed.

The above layout shows a modified version of the 2-berth balcony cabin, with the balcony replaced by an indoor seating area with full length windows.

As mentioned in a previous post, the doorways have been reduced to a standard width. A number of larger, specially designed cabins will be included for disabled passengers. The footprint of this cabin now stands at 138sqft, slightly smaller than the previous balcony cabin.

Preliminary Cabin Layout: 2-berth Inside

At only 69sqft, this 2-berth inside cabin (with bunk beds) would be the smallest category available. Every effort has been made to create a practical, comfortable space for the 3 day crossing (note the improved bathroom design). Whilst small, the construction and operation of the ship would simply not be viable without a considerable number of these cabins.

Note: Apologies for the low quality of the images so far. I am currently using a screen drop of the design in AutoCAD and adding colour using Paint, as this is by far the quickest and most effective way to add colour to these early designs. The quality of renderings will improve considerably as the design develops.

Preliminary Cabin Layout: 2-berth with Balcony

The above picture shows the proposed basic layout of a double balcony cabin (123sqft+31sqft). Due to the high passenger density of the ship, cabins sizes are in general considerably smaller than those of comparable cabins onboard a modern cruise ship. This cabin is the largest standard category cabin (a small number of larger suites will be included.

A suggestion was made that cabin doorways be widened to more easily accommodate disabled passengers. In this case the doorways have been widened from the standard 600mm to 700mm, allowing passage of a standard-width wheechair. However, the size of the room itself leaves little room for movement. The ship will feature a number of considerably larger cabins designed specifically for disabled passengers.

Exterior View

This is an early sketch of the design. I have included it here to give a sense of the scale and shape of the vessel. I have yet to model the ship in a 3D software package.

Initial Cost Estimates

The following cost estimates are based on typical values and follow a standard method for assessing the financial viablility of a project at the concept stage. They suggest that such a vessel could operate at a small profit. It is hoped that through intelligent hull design, the ship's resistance and therefore fuel usage and cost can be reduced.

All costs are shown in £ sterling (GBP)

BUILD COST 102,580,339

ANNUAL CAPITAL COST
Annual repayments (uniform) 10,873,516

ANNUAL COSTS

Fuel Cost 37,634,688
Port and traffic dues 2,675,691
Insurance 1,025,803
Crew costs 9,581,250
Maintenance and stores 6,570,000
Port administration 1,000,000
Marketing and administration 5,000,000
TOTAL ANNUAL COSTS 74,360,948

INCOME
(No. of Berths x Cost per Berth)
Inside 2 berth (218x£300)=65400
Large Inside 2 berth (218x£350)=76300
Inside 4 berth (360x£200)=72000
Outside 2 berth (136x£470)=63920
Outside 4 berth (328x£350)=114800
Balcony 2 berth (240x£800)=192000

Ticket income per voyage 584420
Annual passenger ticket income 60,779,680
Annual Passenger onboard spend 15,600,000
TOTAL ANNUAL INCOME 76,379,680
PROFIT 2,018,732

Feasibility Study

During the past 2-3 weeks I have been working on gaining realistic estimates for length, mass and cost of the vessel (along with studying for my final exams!).

The preliminary value for the length of the vessel is 170m (558ft), with a beam of around 22m (72ft). This would allow for the accommodation of 1500 passengers. The subsequent passenger:space ratio falls between typical values for cruise ships and overnight ferries.

An initial cost estimate based on hull, outfit and machinery masses and standard insurance and repayment models leads to a suggested ticket price of £300 for a one-way trip and £550 for a round voyage.

The values stated above will no doubt be modified as the design process continues. I aim to have the hull form and hydrostatics package for the ship completed by the end of June, allowing for completion of a GA (General Arrangement) and design and development of the passenger spaces.

These are still very early days...

First TRANSAXE Rendering

Welcome to the TRANSAXE blog!

The TRANSAXE concept is a design being developed by a UK based Naval Architecture student for a new low-emission transatlantic passenger vessel capable of transporting passengers across the Atlantic ocean more efficiently than a Boeing 747 Airliner.

A design will be developed for a vessel capable of making one weekly round-trip between Southampton and New York with a journey time each way of stlightly over 3 days. Passengers will be provided with cruise-ship-like facilities. One key aspect of the design is the development of a suitable 'Axe Bow' hull, which it is hoped will greatly reduce the vertical accelerations and motions experienced by passengers.

Whilst every effort is being made to reduce the environmental cost of the design, it is likely that for financial reasons the vessel will be given a more traditional main propulsion unit. It is , however, hoped that the installation of solar panels will generate sufficient power to support the full requirements of all hotel services onboard.

I will be updating this page as developments are made in the design process. Any feedback from shipping enthusiasts, engineers or prospective passengers would be greatly appreciated.

The TRANSAXE concept design is being undertaken as a matter of personal interest, and as such does not form a part of any university studies.