Roadships America planning high-speed coastal ships

Roadships America planning high-speed coastal ships    Roadships America Inc., which is planning to build high speed roll-on/roll-off vessels for the U.S. coastal market, has hired Maritime Transport & Logistics Advisors to conduct research and provide additional consulting services during final design stages for the ships.
   Roadships, based in Reno, Nev., is in partnership with Aker Marine to develop the high-speed, mono-hull vessels, which would have a service speed of 30 knots. Roadships is backed by both U.S. and foreign investors.
   Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based MTLA will provide analysis of the U.S. coastal transport market, and assist with operational considerations in the final design stages for the ships.
   Roadships plans to build eight ships, six that would be U.S. built and leased to a Jones Act operator, and two in a foreign yard to be leased to an operator in Australia.
   The vessels are designed to carry up to 148 53-foot trailers on three decks. The design would also aid in fast port turnarounds. Trailers can be loaded or discharged simultaneously from two decks.
   MTLA has also been designated as the U.S. point of contact for Roadships.