Military projects point the way for commercial cargo ships

摘要

As a result of its expertise in the construction of lightweight, aluminium vessels, Austal USA has been awarded a contract to build a high speed catamaran that will be used to demonstrate advanced hullform technology to the United States Office of Naval Research (ONR). The 31.2m vessel will be built for American Marine Holdings, which has been awarded a contract to deliver and demonstrate its SeaCoaster military vessel design to the ONR. The ONR coordinates, executes and promotes the science and technology programs of the Navy and Marine Corps as well as providing technical advice to the Chief of Naval Operations and the Secretary of the Navy. Austal is already heavily involved in the US defence arena, through its 101m catamaran WestPac Express which has been chartered by Military Sealift Command since 2001, and its work on the design for the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship.