In our roles as professional engineers and naval architects, we have an ethical responsibility to focus on the safety and protection of the public. This involves bringing all available technologies to the table when designing and building high-speed marine craft. Due to the nature of the marine environment and the loads encountered during high-speed surface craft operations, structural integrity is paramount and should be at the forefront of every decision during the design and build phases, and in delivering a vessel to the user. Survivability of the craft is not necessarily confined to conquering the whims of Mother Nature-although mariners know that gales, hurricane force winds, and towering seas can turn seconds into minutes and minutes into hours. High-speed craft also are subject to catastrophic collisions and threats from adversaries. Advanced composites exhibit unique material properties that excel in damage tolerance, shock mitigation, and ballistic protection, among other things. Providing the user the best possible tool for the job will result in a greater probability of completing the mission in an austere environment without injury or death.
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