AIR CREW TRAINING VESSELS: A STUDY OF THE SYNERGY BETWEEN FAST PATROL AND PASSENGER CRAFT

摘要

During late 2001, FBM Babcock Marine secured an order for 6 Air Crew Training (ACT) Vessels as part of a Private Public Partnership (PPP) contract between UK Ministry of Defence and Smit International (Scotland). These multi-role craft draw on the company's patrol boat heritage, but have also been influenced by FBM's fast ferry experience. This paper reviews how the operator's requirements led to the development of a very specific multi-role design and the effects of the application of the new European Directive 98/18/EU. Finally the paper examines the technological cross fertilisation between fast ferries and paramilitary craft and how such synthesis may offer new low risk solutions to operators such as coastguards.