Progress on our new ship model towing tank

Excitement is building at the University of Southampton as the new 138 metre ship model basin nears the end of the construction phase. The building structural elements are complete, external cladding is being fitted and services are being installed. The carriage and automatic side beaches are currently being installed and the aim is to fill the tank in late May 2015.

The Wolfson Unit engineers are heavily involved in monitoring the construction and outfitting, meeting contractors, preparing specifications for the equipment to be installed in the tank, and designing the dynamometers and towing equipment. We look forward to conducting our first tests there in 2015/2016.

The carriage is an aluminium monocoque construction which represents a divergence from traditional carriage design and has allowed the carriage deck and working space to be free of obstructions and allows improved visibility of the model. The carriage mass is around 3.5 tonnes and measures 6m by 6m and will be driven by a cable tow system.