High speed SeaCoaster takes to the water

摘要

An advanced technology demonstrator, built tor the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in the US, the AMH SeaCoaster, was christened at a ceremony at Austal's Mobile, Alabama shipyard in the US in early October, and is due to start trials shortly. The 31.2m surface-effect catamaran will be used to demonstrate advanced hullform technology on behalf of the ONR, and is operated by American Marine Holdings, which has been awarded a contract to demonstrate the SeaCoaster design to ONR. The patented SeaCoaster catamaran design features cavities in the bottom of each hull into which air is blown providing lift to the vessel, reducing resistance, and thus allowing higher speeds to be obtained.