PLA replaces patrol vessels

The Port of London Authority has swapped one hull for two in a bid to reduce wash and improve emissions on the River Thames. Two PLA river patrol vessels have been replaced with Ecocats-designed catamarans, offering a lower-wash speed and a 67% drop in fuel consumption in comparison with the original monohulls. For each Ecocat launch well save 3,660 litres of fuel a year, said Alan Cartwright, chief marine engineer.