Your project is an unusual hybrid: a small-waterplane-area trimaran / SWATH-like platform with NACA 0035 foil legs, modular container packing (45 ft High Cube), aluminum walkway/grating, RIM-drive electric propulsion, solar + LiFePO4 batteries, heave plates, and optional tension-leg mooring. This sits between a custom yacht, a small offshore platform, and a production modular vessel. Chinese state design institutes have strong experience with SWATH, catamarans, special-purpose vessels, hydrodynamics, and cost-effective production drawings for Chinese shipyards. Private yacht-oriented offices can be more agile for the “new design space” aspects.
The firms below are the strongest matches based on published capabilities in innovative hull forms, seakeeping, modular construction, and electric/special vessels. All can work with CCS (and usually ABS/DNV/LR if you want dual class). You will almost certainly need a combination of hydrodynamic research + production design office.
Why they match: Extensive experience with SWATH vessels, high-speed catamarans/trimarans, offshore support vessels, and special-purpose platforms. They routinely produce complete basic + detailed design packages (structure, stability, systems, production drawings) that Chinese shipyards can build from. They understand containerized / modular construction and have done electric-propulsion and solar-assisted projects. Large team that can handle the unusual triangle-frame + foil-leg integration, walkway bracing, and classification calculations.
Typical scope they would take: Full design (concept through production drawings + class submittal), possibly with CSSRC doing the tank tests.
Estimated time: 12–18 months for a complete package (including class review). The novelty of the foil legs + packing constraints will add 2–4 months of iteration versus a conventional yacht.
Estimated fee (full design package): RMB 1.8–3.5 million (approx. USD 250k–480k) depending on how much CFD/model testing they include and whether they do the electrical/solar integration in-house.
Why they match: This is the best place in China (and one of the best in the world) to validate the NACA 0035 foil legs, small-waterplane-area behavior, heave-plate damping, wave-piercing characteristics, and the 1-foot waterline change = ~1/7 buoyancy claim. They have done SWATH, foil-assisted, and semi-submersible work. They can also do structural mechanics and can partner with a production design office (or MARIC/SDARI) for the drawings. Highly recommended for at least the hydrodynamic and seakeeping package even if another firm does the production design.
Typical scope: Hydrodynamic design, CFD, model tests (resistance, seakeeping, heave plates), stability book, plus optional structural or full design support.
Estimated time: 6–10 months for hydro + seakeeping package; 10–16 months if they take the full design.
Estimated fee: Hydro + model-test package RMB 800k–1.8 million (USD 110k–250k). Full design would be similar to MARIC plus testing costs.
Why they match: Very strong at turning unusual concepts into buildable, cost-optimized production drawings that Chinese yards can execute efficiently. They have done catamarans, special vessels, and modular/container-related projects. Good choice if your priority is “can be manufactured in volume and packed into a 45 ft high-cube.” Slightly less “research-y” than MARIC or CSSRC on exotic hulls, so they would likely collaborate with CSSRC on the foil/SWATH hydrodynamics.
Estimated time: 10–16 months for complete production design + class package.
Estimated fee: RMB 1.5–2.8 million (USD 210k–390k).
Why they match: More agile and used to one-off or small-series custom yachts, electric propulsion, solar, and “new design space” thinking. Some have already done SWATH-like or foil-assisted small vessels and aluminum structures. They are usually cheaper and faster for the architectural / interior / systems side, but you would still want CSSRC (or equivalent) for the hydrodynamics and heave-plate work. Better if you want a tighter, more iterative process rather than a large state-institute bureaucracy.
Estimated time: 8–14 months (can be faster on the architectural side).
Estimated fee: RMB 900k–2.2 million (USD 125k–300k) for a complete package; often lower than the big institutes.
| Firm | Best For | Est. Duration | Est. Design Fee (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARIC (708) | Complete, class-ready package + unusual hulls | 12–18 months | 250k–480k |
| CSSRC (702) | Hydrodynamics, seakeeping, foil/heave-plate validation | 6–16 months | 110k–250k (hydro) or higher if full design |
| SDARI | Production drawings & volume manufacturing | 10–16 months | 210k–390k |
| Private yacht offices | Agility, iteration, lower cost | 8–14 months | 125k–300k |
Recommended approach: Engage CSSRC (or equivalent) early for hydrodynamic confirmation of the NACA 0035 legs, waterplane area, heave plates, and packing geometry. Pair them with either MARIC or a private office for the structural, systems, and production drawings. This combination covers both the “new design space” science and the “fits in a 45 ft high-cube and can be built in volume” requirement.