Commercial activities like fishing in deep sea water, long adventure touring, and ferrying passengers require custom built larger vessels with long range and endurance. Such vessels differ from the smaller ones, particularly concerning size, complexity of construction, and purpose of use. Large vessels are also often customized to meet specific operational, functional, and aesthetic requirements.
This article explores the unique characteristics of custom built larger vessels, aspects in which they can be customized, their advantages, and a custom-built large vessel built by Hike Metal.
What Are Large Vessels? How Are They Different From Smaller Ones?
Simply put, you can think of passenger ferries, commercial fishing vessels, all-weather naval vessels, tourism ships and cargo ships as some examples of large vessels. They have wider beams and larger hulls often reinforced to withstand the pressures of oceanic voyages.
Unique Aspects of a Large Vessel
Below are a few of the technical aspects that differentiate the large vessels from comparatively smaller ones:
Size:
They are usually over 50 feet (15 metres) in length and can exceed several hundred feet. The deck is expansive allowing space for cargo, equipment and recreational arareas or luxury vessels like yachts.
Engine:
The engines used in these vessels are typically multi-cylinder diesel or turbine engines optimized for fuel efficiency and the ability to carry large loads over high speeds.
Purpose:
Larger vessels are built for industrial, commercial or high-end luxury purposes for long-range cruising.
- Fishing Industry: Large vessels with high storage capacity are used for harvesting, processing and storing fish at sea.
- Cruise Ships: Vessels with amenities like dining, entertainment a,nd accommodations designed to carry passengers for leisure travel.
- Survey Ships: Large ships are used for geological surveys or underwater mapping. Such ships are often fitted with sonar and advanced technologies.
Customization of Large Vessels
Since large vessels are often intended for specific use and the owners invest a good amount in their production, it is considered a good idea to customize it as per the needs rather than to purchase a mass-produced one. Such customization can be retrofitted to the mass-produced vessel or can be built from scratch depending upon the budget.
Some of the aspects where customizations are usually done are:
Design and Structure
Hull Shape and Material
Hull shapes can be customized for optimized performance, fuel efficiency, and specific operational needs (e.g. icebreaking, shallow draft). Owners can choose from a wide range of materials such as steel, aluminum or fibreglass to construct the hull, based on their purpose of use.
Dimension
Clients can adjust the length of the vessel, beam width and draft to meet the requirements for capacity, storage and navigation in specific waters.
Interior Spaces
Cabin Layout
Cabins are often customized according to the number of tourists or crew members to be accommodated. Elevators, ramps and corridors are customized keeping the users in mind.
Material and Finishes
Luxury yacht owners often prefer premium woods, fabrics and furniture in their interiors for an amazing experience. Such materials might not be available in mass-produced vessels.
Amenities and Features
Research vessels intended for long-term use are often customized with specialized workspaces with modular labs designed for extended adaptability. Superyacht include lounges, theatres, gym, pools, spa and helipad.
Navigation and Automation
Navigation System
Naval vessels often require state-of-the-art GPS, radar, sonar, and autopilot technologies for precise and safe navigation.
Automation:
Smart systems for managing operations, such as automated docking, and remote diagnostics can be installed on request.
Branding and Identity
Corporate branding
Cruising companies often paint logos and design elements on the ship that represent them. Such customizations are highly effective in the communication and marketing of brands among visitors.
Personalization
Exterior lighting can be personalized with underwater lights or for functional purposes like docking at night.
Besides the above aspects, a wide range of other things such as engine and propulsion systems, deck layout and cargo space, and maneuvering systems can be customized by shipbuilding professionals.
Advantages of Custom Vessels
Even though customization of vessels leads to increased production costs, in the longer run it yields a higher return on investment if it aligns with business needs.
Fuel Efficiency
Optimized hull designs and propulsion systems save fuel.
Lower Maintenance Cost
High-quality customized materials and systems such as reinforced metals reduce the wear and tear of parts under harsh operating conditions.
Unparalleled Comfort
Vessels with luxury fittings and furnishings give an unforgettable experience and unparalleled comfort which might be missing in mass-produced vessels.
Now that we know about the advantages, let’s know about one such custom-built commercial vessel built by Hike Metal.
Whale Watcher Matonabee Built for Lazy Bear Expedition by Hike Metal
Matonabee is the only Arctic touring vessel with underwater viewing. It is designed to explore the Hudson Bay coastline to watch friendly Beluga Whales and majestic polar bears.
Used by Lazy Bear Expedition, a touring company, this artic cruise ship is a 20-metre long and 8-metre wide catamaran that can accommodate 59 guests on board. It has a spacious deck for seamless viewing. You can also notice the lifelike design of the beluga and polar bear on the exterior of the vessel done by our creative design team.
Ready to Build Your Next Custom-Built Large Vessel? Contact Hike Metal
We, at Hike Metal, have a track record of delivering high-quality customized large vessels, tailored to our customers’ needs. Our shipbuilding is a collaborative process where we define the requirements and goals together with the clients and designers.
We ensure that at every stage of shipbuilding, our vessels undergo extensive testing and take continuous feedback from our clients. This ensures that the final product is in alignment with the client’s vision and that proper attention to safety concerns is given.
Contact Hike Metal today to build your next custom built larger vessels with professionals with extensive experience.
