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Thunder Child is an 'XSV 17’ designed and built by Safehaven Marine. The design is a 17m very high speed, wavepiercing, low Interceptor, designed for Naval, law enforcement and offshore patrol  applications, as well as being capable of high speed S.A.R. operations being self-righting and offering fast emergency response times.

Thunder Child is powered by a pair of Caterpillar C12.9 turbocharged, supercharged and intercooler diesel engines producing 1,000hp each. Propulsion is by Surface drives manufactured by Metamarine in Italy. XSV 17 is capable of a maximum speed of 54kts.

A crew of 10 can be comfortably seated, 6 on shock mitigation seats and 4 on fixed seats in her main cabin, a separate heads and sleeping compartment in her f/wd cabin. 

Thunder Child is fitted with long range fuel tanks of 5,000+L allowing a range of over 750NM.

'THUNDER CHILD'

Construction and hull design

The vessel is constructed from advanced lightweight FRP cored composites. XSV has an innovative and unique hull form that allows it to operate in two distinct modes, fully planing and wavepiercing. The hull design hull design combines a constant deadrise deep  V hull form incorporating twin chines capable of 60kts with a wavepiercing bow form. A 24 degree deadrise at the transom transitions to a wave piercing bow, with a super fine wave cutting waterline entry designed to run clear of the water at very high speeds, but which can be bought into dramatic effect with adjustable trim control to very effectively minimizes vertical accelerations at speed in waves, thereby maximizing crew endurance.

The hull provides exceptionally high levels of seakeeping abilities on all courses with its twin chine arrangements providing for high levels of both static and dynamic stability. The design is fully self-righting, capable of recovering after capsize by a large breaking sea and is survivable up to sea state 8, capable of operating effectively in up to sea state 6, and maintain operational speed in sea state 3-4. A unique feature is the bow buoyancy control fins used to increase buoyancy in following seas preventing excessive submersion, the fins are adjustable for wave height and craft speed.

Thunder Child is fitted with a full array of navigation equipment including HD Radar, VHF radio communications, AIS, and GPS systems displayed on three 15" colour monitors at the helm and navigators station, all supplied by Garmin. FLIR Thermal /night vision infrared camera systems are fitted for night time passage as well as a four zone CCTV covering engine room and external views all displayed at the helm. Dedicated engineers position with dual controls and 15% Cat touchscreen engine monitoring display. The vessel is built to the UK's MCA Cat II commercial work boat regulations.

XSV 17  Principle dimensions / characteristics

 

L.O.A.                                                   17.8m / 59ft

 

Hull length                                         16.3m / 53ft 6"

 

Beam overall                                      4m / 13ft 2"

 

Beam moulded                                  3.8m / 12ft 6"

 

Draft                                                    .85m / 2ft 9"

 

Displacement lightship                    13,900kg

 

Fully loaded                                       19,500kg

 

Fuel capacity                                      5,000L

 

Range                                                  750nm+

 

Crew capacity                                    10

 

Engines                                               2x Caterpillar C12.9 1,000hp

Surface Drive                                     Metamarine

 

Speed Maximum                                54kts

 

Cruise speed                                      40-43+kts

Survivability                                       4x watertight compartments / self- righting / capsize recovery

MEDIA

Launch and performance trials video

Rough weather winter seakeeping trials video

Self-righting capsize recovery video

Construction of Thunder Child, Caterpillar engines and surface drive installation video

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