Partnership aims to bring Y-shaped passenger ship hull to market  

Glasgow’s EcoNavis Solutions has joined forces with Singapore-based naval architect ShipDyn to optimise and commercialise a hull form that combines the stability and deck space of a catamaran with the efficiency and single-shaft simplicity of a monohull. 

The Y-Hull’s distinctive geometry features twin forward demi-hulls before merging into a single monohull aft. 

From the bow, the vessel looks like a regular catamaran, with twin demi-hulls reducing resistance and wake impact. But midway along the parallel mid-body, the demi-hulls merge into a single monohull, allowing the vessel to operate with one engine and one propeller while retaining the broader beam, stability and deck area typically associated with a twin-hull.

The partners claim the patented Y-hull form delivers not only improved stability, lower wake impact and enhanced passenger comfort, but also a substantial reduction in fuel consumption.

After witnessing a Bangladeshi passenger vessel capsize in the wake of a large commercial ship, ShipDyn founder Amitavo Wye designed and built a 13-m steel Y-Hull prototype craft with the aim of improving stability and reducing river bank and coastal erosion. 

“The idea came from a real-life safety concern,” said Mr Wye. “But what we have found is the Y-Hull delivers much more: fuel savings, more environmental benefits and more comfortable seakeeping. This makes it relevant for operators facing today’s performance and sustainability challenges.”

The passenger ferry Mr Wye built is now operational, ferrying passengers across a Bangladeshi waterway. The ferry owner has also reported a 25% reduction in fuel consumption compared with a monohull vessel of the same dimensions, claims Mr Wye.

Founder and chief executive of EcoNavis Solutions Dr Batuhan Aktas said, “When I first saw the Y-Hull, I recognised its potential for applications like crew transfer vessels, which are critical to offshore wind but consume significant amounts of fuel. By optimising the design, we can create vessels that are more efficient, more comfortable, and more in line with a ship operator’s sustainability and net-zero goals.”

EcoNavis and ShipDyn are now taking the design further by refining the hull form through computational fluid dynamics, simulation and towing tank tests of 1-m monohull, catamaran and Y-Hull models. The intention is to validate performance, optimise hull geometry and produce technical and commercialisation plans.

To this end and to expedite market entry, funding has been applied for through the UK Government Transport Research and Innovation Grant. The first stage approval has been successful and EcoNavis and ShipDyn are now awaiting stage two results.

In addition to the renewable energy segment, the partners see opportunities for the novel hull in the leisure marine, passenger and commercial shipping sectors, especially in environmentally sensitive or confined waterways where a reduced wake can mitigate against shoreline erosion. 

The Y-Hull’s design also lends itself to retrofitting, with the potential to replace the forward section of existing vessels during drydocking to achieve efficiency and stability gains without a full rebuild.

“This partnership blends ShipDyn’s inventive design and proven prototype with EcoNavis’ hydrodynamic optimisation expertise and market access,” said Mr Wye. “From safety to sustainability, the Y-Hull is about solving real-world maritime industry problems. With EcoNavis, we can now turn our prototype into a commercial reality.”