Concept Design of a Clinic Ship for the Health Care System in Peruvian Amazon Basin

In the Peruvian Amazon basin rivers are the only link among the small communities, scattered on a wide territory. With that in mind and according to the needs of local communities, a health care network system based on mobile clinic units onboard small crafts has been conceived, within a cooperation programme between the Universidad Católica Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo (Perú) and the University of Trieste (Italy). This way, patients along the inland waterways can be reached. Ships to be operated in this service, must be especially designed to sail in different environmental conditions: in shallow water during dry season, against high currents during wet season and eventually in rivers showing both phenomena. Moreover, manoeuvrability and landing are subjects of major interest in ships designed for these regions. Within this frame, a study has been carried out to define main characteristics for a small clinic ship. General arrangement plans including medical equipment and clinic lay-out have been drawn. Then, according to clinic platform needs, the major engineering aspects of the ship have been studied to a concept design level: main dimensions have been defined and hull geometry has been optimized for waterway navigation; scantling of all the ship’s structures has been completed, based on the most recent rules issued by classification societies and according to EC guidelines for inland navigation; propellers and propulsion plant have been studied on the whole, considering shallow water effects on resistance; intact and damaged stability and buoyancy criteria have been met according to IMO regulations.